Detectives continue to probe death of man whose body was found outside Cosham library

Police were called to Cosham library at 7.17am yesterday following the grim discovery near the back of the building.

About a dozen officers swamped the area, sealing off the city facility with blue and white police tape.

Forensic officers, wearing white overalls, gloves and masks, spent much of the morning combing for clues, while detectives quizzed residents living nearby.

Police used a series of blankets and sheets to screen the area where the body was found, which was directly opposite a busy bus stop.

It is unclear whether the man’s death is being treated as suspicious by investigators.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: ‘Officers are in the early stages of this investigation and enquiries are ongoing at this time into the exact circumstances of his death.’

The cordon around the building, in Spur Road, was lifted in the afternoon.

But the incident has left locals in Cosham in a state of shock.

Grace Benjamin, 29, has lived in a flat opposite the library for the past four years.

She said: ‘I woke up at 8am and there were police everywhere. It was a real shock. It’s quite worrying to see so many police. I’ve never seen this many here before.’

Jonathan Parker, of Tudor Crescent, was shopping in Cosham High Street yesterday.

SEE ALSO: Photos show police outside library after body is found

The 41-year-old IT worker said: ‘It’s just awful what’s happened. You never expect this sort of thing to happen here – it's such a public area, too.’

Ben Lovegrove, 27, works at the nearby Game On shop in High Street. He said: ‘The first thing I heard about anything was when I came into work in the morning.

‘It’s incredibly sad news. It only happened down the road from us. It’s just awful to hear this sort of thing happening.’

The building is owned by Portsmouth City Council, which runs library services across the island.

Councillor Steve Pitt, deputy leader of the authority and the city’s culture and leisure chief, was left shocked by the news and insisted the council would support police in their investigation.

Speaking to The News, the senior Lib Dem politician said: ‘It's tragic to hear that someone has lost their life. Obviously the council will work proactively with the police and co-operate with the investigation.’

Penny Mordaunt, Portsmouth North MP, also expressed her sorrow at the man’s death. She added: ‘I’m very sorry to hear this sad news and want to thank the police and others who responded.’

In October, 2018, the library was the scene of a distressing incident, which saw a man walk into the building and slash himself with a knife in front of horrified staff.

The property was closed temporarily and staff were offered counselling by the city council.

Cosham library, like all others in the city, has been shut during the coronavirus pandemic.

Three in city will reopen on Monday for the first time since the national lockdown was announced in March.

The branches opening include central library, in Guildhall Square, Southsea library and North End library.

Others will open at a later date.

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