One of the senior officers in Sussex Police has given an overview of the investigation and recovery work taking place after the Shoreham airshow crash yesterday.
Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry said that the death toll was likely to have risen to 11.
Mr Barry also said: “We have now started the task of clearing the scene of an air crash at Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex that happened on Saturday afternoon (August 22).
“An investigation, jointly run by the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), has commenced with the recovery from the scene of those who have died.
“This has been an enormously traumatic incident and our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the incident, from those who have suffered bereavement to those in the local community who are deeply shocked.
“I would like to pay tribute to colleagues in all of the emergency services, partner agencies and the organisers whose compassion and professionalism in the most extreme of circumstances has been widely commented upon.
“Sadly, as a result of our initial work at the site, which has continued overnight, and inquiries following calls to the emergency services from worried families and friends, we have now identified 11 people who we are treating as highly likely to have died in this tragedy.
“I am aware that this sounds rather technical but there are processes that have to be followed even in such circumstances as these.
“We have specially trained officers working with all of the families involved to ensure that they receive the most up-to-date information we have.
“This helps families to understand what has happened to their loved ones which is a high priority for us.
“A major part of that understanding will come from the investigation now under way.
“That said, no formal identifications have been made at this time, although I am aware that some of the victims have been made known by other sources.
“However, we cannot confirm the identities of any of those involved until the formal processes have been completed and we would ask that you respect the privacy of the families involved at this time.
“The scene of the incident is a large one, extending around 400 yards along the A27 and spilling off to the sides and just partly onto the airfield itself.
“We do know that no one on the airfield attending the show was injured.
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