A 34-year-old Colombian national, Yostin Andres Mosquera, has been charged with two counts of murder following the discovery of human remains at Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, southwest England. The arrest took place in Bristol early Saturday, with charges being brought on Monday by London’s Metropolitan Police.
The remains were found in suitcases at the bridge in Bristol and also at Mosquera’s address in Shepherd’s Bush, west London. The victims have been identified as Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, who were in a relationship and lived together in the London apartment where Mosquera had been staying for a brief period.
Longworth was British, while Alfonso, originally from France, had obtained British citizenship. The Metropolitan Police is conducting thorough investigations to determine if there are any related offenses in the UK or internationally, although none have been identified yet.
Andy Valentine, the Met’s deputy assistant commissioner, expressed condolences to the loved ones of Albert and Paul, emphasizing the impact of the tragic news on the LGBTQ+ community in London. He assured that, at this stage, no other suspects are being sought in connection with the murders.
While evidence does not currently indicate a homophobic motive, the incident has been provisionally categorized as a hate crime in line with national guidelines. The Metropolitan Police will continue to assess this classification as more information is gathered.
