Police have launched a full-scale investigation after human tissue believed to be part of a child's body was found at a recycling center in Incheon.
According to Incheon's Yeonsu Police Station on Tuesday, a report was received at around 2:28 p.m. the previous day that "an object appearing to be a human leg was found" at a household resource recovery center in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon.
The object was reportedly discovered inside a bag by a worker sorting recyclable waste. The body part was estimated to be the section below the knee, measuring about 30 to 33 centimeters in length.
A genetic analysis conducted by police confirmed the object to be human tissue. Police are expanding their investigation without ruling out a possible link to a crime.
Accordingly, police formed an investigation headquarters led by Bae Seok-hwan, chief of the Yeonsu Police Station. The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency's regional investigation unit was deployed alongside the Yeonsu Police Station's criminal affairs division.
Police requested an autopsy and additional genetic analysis from the National Forensic Service, and are conducting door-to-door investigations centered on the area where the recyclable waste was collected. Analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage is also underway.
Considering factors such as the size of the discovered foot, police believe the deceased may be a young student. They have begun efforts to identify the victim, including sending official letters to local schools to check for students with prolonged absences.
A police official said the investigation is being conducted from multiple angles to determine the exact identity of the human tissue and the circumstances of the case.
