| CCTV footage examined after a two-hour search of the river by police, coastguard and the crew of the Broughty Ferry lifeboat last night showed a car leaving the clothes near the river wall at the Bridgeview Station cafe.
It’s believed the full set of clothing may have been left as a hoax at a time when Dundee is still reeling from four young men having taken their own lives within the space of a couple of weeks.
The costs of the search could run into thousands of pounds.
A spokesman for Tayside Police said, “Inquiries were made at premises that overlook the area where the clothes were left.
“A vehicle was seen on CCTV and the driver was seen to place the clothes on the pathway.
“It’s clearly irresponsible if this was intended to have been a hoax and that’s what it appears to have been at this stage.”
Officers were today continuing to make inquiries into why the clothes were dumped, but no description of the car or its driver has been issued.
Councillor Tom Ferguson, who represents the Lochee area from where two of the suicide victims came, said he was appalled by the act.
“I am absolutely disgusted that people could carry out such an act, especially when families are grieving so hard with their sad loss at this time,” he said.
“I’m shocked that somebody could sink so low. I’m lost for words in my condemnation of these sickos. They should have the book thrown at them.”
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson echoed his comments.
“Fundamentally, it’s insensitive and irresponsible given the concerning and upsetting circumstances over the past couple of weeks involving young men in Dundee,” he said.
“But over and above that there’s the fact that the emergency services have had to respond.
“They need to respond to real emergencies and having their resources used on this irresponsible action is very regrettable.”
Police said the clothing found had been cross-referenced against missing person reports, but did not match any descriptions. |
