Body pulled from river after man enters water during police chase in London

Police watchdog launches investigation to establish how man came to be in water

Police searched overnight for a missing man who entered the River Lea during a chase (@SemraLondon/Twitter)

A body has been found in a river in north London after a man entered the water during a police chase.  

Scotland Yard said two men plunged into the river after cycling away from officers who approached them while patrolling the River Lea towpath in Tottenham on Wednesday night.

A third man was arrested while police on bikes pursued the fleeing pair, one of whom was pulled from the water alive and detained.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Despite their efforts, the other male could not be located.”

Specialist marine officers supported by a police helicopter searched for the missing man for several hours overnight. Officers resumed the search on Thursday and morning recovered the body at 9.50am.

Scotland Yard said it was working to identify the victim and confirm if he is the man officers were chasing.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation and will be looking into how the two men came to be in the water.

Met Police commander Paul Brogden said: “I fully recognise the concern this incident will cause among members of the local community. The matter was referred by our Directorate of Professional Standards to the Independent Office for Police Conduct who have confirmed that they are independently investigating this tragic incident, and how the males came to be in the water.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased male and we will do everything we can to support the IOPC investigation.”

The two men detained were arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and remained in custody in north London police stations on Thursday.