Lily Fenton
© SWNS.comLily Fenton, 26, was last seen in central Bristol on Friday night, June 2.
A fifth body has been found in and around Bristol's waterways in just five months, sparking more community safety fears following claims a serial killer was on the loose.

Police today confirmed they had found a body during the search for missing local woman Lily Fenton, although formal identification had not yet taken place.

Avon and Somerset police had been seen combing the waterfront around Bristol harbour since the early hours of Saturday morning in search of the 26-year-old.

Lily was last seen in central Bristol on Friday night, June 2.

The devastating find follows fears of a "serial killer" - dubbed the "Bristol pusher" prowling the area.

Last month, we reported how four bodies had been found in the city's waterways in only four months.

Jason Gurgul
© TwitterMissing man Jason Gurgul (right) was confirmed as the fourth body found.
One local, Brett Francis, posted on Facebook tonight: "Lived in Bristol all my life and I've never known it this bad for deaths.

"I hope it's nothing sinister but it makes you think."

Maria Dimambro wrote: "It's just so sad to see this go on month after month."

Imran Ahmed wrote: "How come with all the deaths that have happened in central bristol the police class them as 'not suspicious?"

The four male corpses were recovered from Bristol's floating Harbour and River Avon.

The findings prompted claims that a "killer" could be pushing unsuspecting victims into the waterways.

But speaking previously, police said they were not treating any of the deaths of the four men as suspicious.

Deakon Wilkins
© Bristol PostThe body of Deakon Wilkins was found in the floating Harbour earlier this year.
A force spokesman had said they "appear to have been tragic accidents".

According to the Bristol Post, a spokesman for the police today said of the discovery of Lily: "Avon and Somerset Constabulary have found body has been found in the search for missing Lily Fenton.

"Although formal identification has not yet been completed, we've updated Lily's family with this development.

"We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding during our enquiries at Bristol Harbourside."

Police had earlier said her disappearance was not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman had said: "As we have previously stated regarding other incidents at Bristol Harbourside, there is nothing to suggest any of these are linked.

Abdulkadir Mahamoud
© Bristol PostAbdulkadir Mahamoud has also been found dead in the city's waterways in the past four months.
"Speculation and rumour regarding this inquiry and previous investigations is unhelpful and causes unnecessary alarm."

Last month, divers recovered a man's body from the floating Harbour in Welsh Back at around lunchtime, the Bristol Post reports.

It was the fourth time a body had been recovered from the city's harbour or River Avon since the start of the year.

The bodies of Deakon Wilkins, Lewis Ball and Abdulkadir Mahamoud had all previously been recovered from the water.

The body was later identified as belonging to missing dad-of-two Jason Gurgul, who had last been seen in the city centre at the weekend.
Lewis Ball
© Avon and Somerset ConstabularyLewis Ball, who went missing in February.
That discovery led to renewed online speculation that a serial killer was on the loose and pushing people into Bristol's waterways.

More than 300 people commented on the subject on Avon and Somerset Constabulary's Facebook page, with dozens advancing the theory that foul play was involved.

One commenter, Lizzie Steele, said: "I think it's about time Avon and Somerset constabulary addressed the publics concerns. Without wanting to upset any of the families involved, it has surely gone past the point of being a 'coincidence' now with 4 deaths in the last few months?"



Another, Katherine Edwards, said: "When will the police actually start treating all of these deaths as murder?! There is clearly a serial killer on the loose."

A third, called Jamie, wrote on Twitter: "Serial killer clearly on the loose in bristol, ANOTHER body found in the floating harbour, about time A&S Police address it! #bristolpusher."

Police reiterated last month there was no evidence that any of the deaths was suspicious.

A spokesman said that the force's position remained unchanged since a statement was released in response to speculation in March, which said: "There is nothing to suggest that any of the deaths are linked or suspicious.



"They appear to have been tragic accidents. We are always willing to receive new information and intelligence, which is not based on speculation.

"We are continuing to work with the coroner on the incidents which are being treated as non-suspicious sudden deaths."

Mirror Online has contacted police about the latest incident.