Police probe death of man as body found in van near famous museum

17 February 2024 , 18:12

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The scene at the BP petrol station on Cambridge Heath Road (Image: Rachel Hagan/Daily Mirror)

The Metropolitan Police are probing the death of a man after a body was discovered in a white van near a popular family museum in the capital today.

Police officers were ushering away hordes of families with young children outside the Young V&A museum in Bethnal Green, east London today after a large white transit van was found facing into the car wash at the BP petrol station on Cambridge Heath Road. A male body was discovered in the van, police confirmed and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to London Ambulance Service. Officers were seen desperately trying to force open the doors of the van with battering rams as firemen descended on the scene to aid.

Police at the scene of the garage in Bethnal Green, London (Rachel Hagan/Daily Mirror)

New Scotland Yard told the Mirror the body of a man in the vehicle at the petrol garage has been identified. The force is now working to inform his next of kin. A large police cordon was in place at the scene as well as two ambulances, a fire engine, a police van and three police cars.

A New Scotland Yard spokesperson told the Mirror: "At 14:12hrs on Saturday, 17 February the body of a man was discovered in a vehicle in a petrol garage in Cambridge Heath Road E2. Officers believe they know who the deceased is and are working to inform the next of kin. At this stage, the death is not being treated as suspicious."

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 2.15 pm today (17 February) to reports of an incident on Cambridge Heath Road, E1. We sent an ambulance crew and paramedic in a fast-response car to the scene. Very sadly, a person was pronounced dead at the scene."

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A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters from Whitechapel fire station assisted the Metropolitan Police Service at an incident on Cambridge Heath Road in Bethnal Green. The Brigade was called at 1426 and the incident was over for firefighters at 1503.”

London Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment. The BP garage refused to comment.

Rachel Hagan