Investigation turned over to Montreal police after human remains sent to Vancouver schools

The first package was delivered to False Creek elementary school at about 1 p.m. Tuesday containing a human hand. Another package containing a foot was opened by staff at St. George’s school at about 2 p.m.

“There’s no indication of an identity at this stage of the investigation,” deputy police chief Warren Lemcke said at a news conference in the afternoon.

Vancouver police made the decision to turn the investigation over to Montreal authorities after local homicide investigators determined the packaging of the boxes was "similar to that of the packages discovered earlier this week in eastern Canada".

"The disturbing contents, a right hand and right foot from an as yet unidentified victim, will be sent to Montreal today for further forensic examination," a Vancouver Police Department spokesperson said in a news release early this morning (June 6).

Montreal police will determine if there are any links between the Vancouver incidents and the investigation of murder suspect Luka Rocco Magnotta. Magnotta was arrested in Berlin on Monday (June 4) in connection with the death and dismemberment of a university student from China.

The discovery of the packages in Vancouver comes about a week after packages containing another hand and foot were mailed to political parties in Ottawa.