Human Remains Found Near Children’s Playground in ‘Shocking’ Discovery

• Human remains were discovered by horrified residents in gravel near a children’s playground on Saturday, April 12
• The incident, which took place in Lewisham, South East London, has left residents “shocked” and “shaken”
• A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE that an investigation into the “non-recent” remains was ongoing

Residents in London, England were horrified when they discovered human remains just yards away from a children’s playground on Saturday, April 12, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE.

U.K. newspaper The Standard reported that a jaw and fragments of an arm were found in a bag of gravel delivered to the site during a community clean-up event.

The incident, which took place at The Church Grove Project in Lewisham, South East London, has left residents “shaken,” with one young mom telling U.K. newspaper The Sun, “Tiny kids were playing right next to literal bits of human arm. You just never think something like this will happen so close to you.”

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Her husband also noted to the outlet that the incident was “crazy” and “shocking,” adding that the site is usually used for growing vegetables.

“We all pitch in, in the shared eco garden; it’s just mind-boggling,” he said with his wife adding that the discovery was “terrifying.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a statement shared with PEOPLE, “On Saturday, 12 April, police were called at 14:08hrs to Church Grove, SE13, following reports that human remains had been unearthed in a garden.

“There have been no arrests at this stage, and officers are working to establish an identity, although the remains are thought to be non-recent. Enquiries are ongoing and a crime scene remains in place.”

The partial remains were said to have been discovered when they fell out of a large construction worker’s bag of gravel, according to The Sun. 

Another local resident told the newspaper that she was “worried” by the discovery. “I have a little one, so that’s been extra stressful,” she said, adding, “Forensics are still digging up the garden and trying to find any more bones. They’ve been at it for days.”

The Church Grove project is a ‘community-led, affordable, self-build housing development’ on a former derelict school and industrial site. The community-led housing development sees residents design, builld and manage 36 affordable and sustainable rented flats, according to its website.