Four held after man found dying in van

Detectives in Britain were questioning four suspects today in connection with the murder of a man who was found dying in the back of a van.

Armed officers acting on a tip-off pulled over the vehicle in Sunningdale, Berkshire, and discovered the fatally injured man inside.

When the van was stopped at about 1pm, four men tried to escape. Three were quickly arrested but officers had to use a helicopter to find and capture the fourth man.

Following the arrests, officers searched the white Mercedes Sprinter van and discovered the critically injured man, who was “breathing shallowly”.

Attempts were made to revive him and at 2pm – around an hour after the van was initially stopped – an air ambulance was called.

Paramedics were unable to save him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Eyewitnesses said the victim was wrapped in bags and one officer at the scene remarked that he appeared to have been tortured.

Bystanders also said a sledgehammer, which may have been used to attack the victim, was recovered from the van by investigators.

The four arrested men were being held in police custody today and questioned on suspicion of murder.