When a huge fire broke out at Bismark House Mill in Oldham over two months ago, local residents in the small community of Derker assumed it was 'just a mill full of tiles.'
And fire crews who attended the blaze on May 7 believed the same. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spent four days extinguishing the flames - working under the knowledge the building was empty.
Demolition work had begun to dismantle the mill, which had previously been used to house companies including a tile shop, when workers made a shocking find last Saturday (23 July).
READ MORE: Locked Up: The criminals jailed in Greater Manchester in July
The discovery of human remains relating to one person prompted a major incident to be declared - and initiated a huge search operation at the site of the former mill.
Two days earlier, Greater Manchester Police had received a tip that four Vietnamese nationals had been missing since around the date of the fire, and were feared to have been inside the building at the time.
The M.E.N understands the force were alerted to the possibility by a Catholic church in London, after they were contacted by a family in Vietnam who hadn't heard from their son since May 7 - the date of the blaze.
Assistant chaplain at the Vietnamese Catholic Community, Father Anthony Nguyen Tri said he was contacted by the man's family who wanted to know if their son was "dead or alive."
As the search operation continued this week, specialist teams made the horrific discovery of a second set of human remains - taking the total death toll at the mill so far to two.
Detectives from GMP's Major Incident Team have warned that the body count may still rise, as they remain 'conscious of the report we received, on Thursday 21 July 2022, that four Vietnamese nationals were missing and may have been involved in a fire.'
As a local MP warned the police investigation could take "many weeks," the site is still filled with containers, diggers and emergency service vehicles. Technical support units from GMFRS and specialist officers have been deployed to the scene, with multiple workers seen in hazmat suits and masks surveying the area.
On Tuesday (July 26), officials from the Vietnamese embassy were also drafted in to help with the investigation and to assist with identifying the deceased. The Deputy Ambassador to the UK was pictured at the demolition site speaking to police and fire crews.
The horrifying discoveries have prompted questions about how the victims came to be involved in the fire - the cause of which is still unknown - and why nobody knew they were in there until police received the tip.
Detectives are understood to be exploring the possibility that human trafficking could have played a part in the tragedy. Another line of enquiry is thought to be that a section of the mill was being used to farm cannabis as multiple sources said the site was being used to grow the class B drug.
Local residents who live near to Bismark House Mill have since expressed their shock after learning they had been living metres away from where the remains lay for several weeks.
Speaking to the M.E.N one neighbour, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "If you had told me there were people in there I wouldn't have believed you. I've worked here for ages and there was never any action, no movement and the lights were never on. It was always quiet."
Another local resident described the moment the building was engulfed in flames. They said: "I was here when it was on fire, we had cans blowing across the road. It was huge. I never saw anything suspicious, to me it was always just a mill full of tiles. It’s sad isn’t it, you never know what’s going on next door do you?"
Derker Street resident Emma Hughes remembers her young toddler waking her up around 3am on the morning of the fire in May. She said: "We saw all the smoke over the trees as my little boy had heard all the bangs and the sirens.
"I didn't know the mill was still used, I have never really seen people going in or out. I have let my child watch them knocking it down over the past few months, and it's scary to think we were just metres away from a dead body.
"The fire was so long ago now that it's really shocking to hear now they are uncovering bodies there and possibly looking for more. You wouldn't ever think this would happen."
Sophie Berry, also of Miles Street, added: "I remember the night of the fire, my friend had called me to check I was okay because it was so close to my house. It was scary when it happened, it was just so big and so close.
"We are so shocked by this news. Construction has been going on here for ages and you can't even believe bodies could've been lying there for months."
Bosses from GMFRS have defended their decision not to search the premises at the time of the blaze on May 7, but have since confirmed that an independent review of their response to the fire will be carried out.
Asked why firefighters did not carry out a search, Leon Parkes, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, said: "Given the severity of the fire, and there being no information to indicate there were people inside, we did not undertake a search. Following the correct safety procedures, we could not risk sending firefighters into such an unsafe and unstable building."
Commenting on the original fire he added: "The cause of the fire is currently listed as unknown because at the time of the fire – and the weeks afterwards - we could not access the building due to the instability of the building and it being condemned.
"However, given what has since been discovered, we’re now working with Greater Manchester Police at the scene to safely investigate the cause - with specialist teams called in.
"We’re confident that officers followed the correct processes in this situation but, given the devastation that has happened here, it’s right that we are absolutely certain and that’s why we’re now gathering information on how we managed this incident and will send this to be independently reviewed in the interests of transparency and best practice. If we do discover anything that requires further action, we will of course look into it."
Greater Manchester Police has also referred itself to the force's internal Professional Standards Branch in relation to the fire and the consequent discovery of human remains there due to "previous contact relating to the fire and missing persons."
The force have confirmed that the case is being treated as a 'major incident investigation' as they continue to work around the clock to establish the full circumstances surrounding the fire. "Any criminal offences identified as part of this will be progressed immediately and appropriately," they added.
Anyone who is concerned about a missing loved one or who has information about the circumstances surrounding the fire, including activity at the premises before the seventh of May, should contact the Major Incident Room on UK callers: 0800 051 4675. International callers: (+44) 0207 459 4500. Information can also be submitted via the Major Incident Public Portal: Public Portal (mipp.police.uk)
Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can share information via the independent charity – Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Read more of today's top stories here
Read next:
