Counties Manukau Police say an operation has been completed on a walkway near Highbrook, East Tamaki.
At around 11.30am today July 22, police say they were advised of a sudden death near a walkway running adjacent to the Southern Motorway (SH1).
On attendance, police staff located a man’s body off the walkway, says detective senior sergeant Mike Hayward, of Counties Manukau Police CIB.
While carrying out their work at the scene, police officers located a suspicious item near the man’s body, says Hayward.
The item resembled the appearance of an improvised explosive device (IED) or similar, he says.
“The area was immediately cordoned off, including the closure of SH1 between Princes Street and Highbrook Drive.
“The Police Specialist Search Group and the NZ Defence Force EOD Team were deployed to the scene.
“Specialists have carried out a thorough examination of the immediate area and have located two objects.
“Both objects have been safely removed from the scene.”
Initial enquiries indicate that the items are not IEDs, and further specialist enquiries will need to be carried out into the two objects, Hayward says.
The Southern Motorway has since reopened to motorists.
Police officers will remain at the location around the walkway at Highbrook where the man’s body was located.
A detailed scene examination will be carried out this Tuesday evening and it’s expected to carry on into Wednesday, Hayward says.
“Police can reassure the public that the situation is contained and there are no immediate concerns for the anyone’s safety.
“Police will carry out enquiries into the man’s death on behalf of the Coroner.
“This includes a post-mortem examination and formal identification, which will be completed in due course.
“We sincerely thank motorists for their cooperation today and recognise the disruption that has been caused.
“Public safety is paramount, and these decisions on cordons are always made with this front of mind,” Hayward says.
