Police confirm body found in Alice Gross murder inquiry is suspect

The inquest into the death of teenager Alice Gross has formally opened and quickly adjourned until the new year.

There will now be further tests on Alice's body after a post-mortem failed to establish the cause of death.

ITV News reporter Sejal Karia has been following developments from West London Coroners Court.

Detectives have outlined what they have described as one of the "most complex search operations" in recent times after Alice Gross was reported missing on August 28.

Police said all lines of possible evidence were pursued until the body of Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalnwas found in a "densely overgrown overgrown" area.

Officers said that recovery of the body required a "substantial removal of forestry" to enable access for forensic teams, before it was removed shortly after 10am on Sunday.

Scotland Yard said a body found in Boston Manor Park, west London, on Saturday has been formally identified as that of Arnis Zalkalns - the prime suspect in the Alice Gross murder investigation.

Detectives said the cause of death was "consistent with hanging" adding that there was no evidence of any third party involvement.

The post mortem examination of the body found at a park in west London will begin later today, police have confirmed.

The remains are believed to be those of Alice Gross murder suspect Arnis Zalkalns.

Police investigating the murder of the schoolgirl Alice Gross are examining human remains believed to be of their Prime Suspect, Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns.

It's thought the body remained undiscovered in a West London park for some time,, even though the area it was found in had already been searched by police. Sejal Karia reports.

A former Scotland Yard commander has criticised the police search of the area in west London where the body of Alice Gross and the prime suspect in her murder, Arnis Zalkalns, were found.

Speaking to ITV News, John O'Connor said:

"I think there has been a lack of leadership, as far as these search bodies are concerned...it is a pity they did not do intensive searching in the area around where her rucksack was found."

Read: Body thought to be murder suspect 'badly decomposed'

The body thought to be that of Alice Gross murder suspect Arnis Zalkalns has been taken from Boston Manor Park in west London to a mortuary.

A body which is thought to be that of Latvian builder Arnis Zalkalns - the prime suspect in the murder of schoolgirl Alice Gross - has been removed from a west London park by specialist officers.

Met Police said: "We can now confirm the body found in Boston Manor Park on Saturday has now been recovered by specialist officers and taken to a West London mortuary. A post-mortem examination will be held in due course."