The family of Becky Watts have said they are "devastated" after police searching for the missing teenager found some body parts at an address in Bristol.
In a statement released by police, Becky's mother Tania, grandmother Pat and brother Daniel Watts said: "We are devastated to be told of this latest development.
"We are at an utter loss to understand why anyone would want to hurt our beautiful Becky in such a brutal way.
"We are grateful to the police for all they have done and are continuing to do in this investigation.
"Whilst there are people in custody, none of whom are connected to the Watts family, we will not be making any further comment and we ask that our privacy is respected at this horrific time."
Becky vanished from her home in Bristol more than a week ago.
Detective Superintendent Mike Courtiour announced the grim news to reporters this morning.
He said in a statement: "As a result of new information received late last night, we attended a house at Barton Court in the Barton Hill area of Bristol.
"The information suggested that Becky's body had been cut up and a search at the new location resulted in the discovery of body parts.
"Although formal identification procedures have not yet been completed, we have made Becky's family aware of this discovery.
"As a result of this latest development, a further four men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
"They remain in police custody at this time as do the man and the woman arrested on suspicion of Becky's murder.
"This is devastating news for Becky's family and friends and our thoughts are with them. We will continue to offer every support we can to them during this terrible ordeal."
The men arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender are aged 29, 29, 23 and 23. The woman is also aged 23.
Becky left home with her phone, laptop and tablet computer but did not tell friends or family where she was going, or take extra clothing. S he was reported missing at 4pm on February 20.
A 28-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping the teenager. They were further arrested yesterday on suspicion of her murder.
Speaking at the weekend, Becky's father, Darren Galsworthy, and stepmother, Angie-Mae Galsworthy, said in a statement: "We continue to hope that she will be found safe and unharmed but we will prepare ourselves for the worst."
Mr Galsworthy added: "It's an absolute hell-on-earth nightmare that seems to be going on and on forever. We just need closure, we want it all to go away, get everything back to normal, get my little girl home."
The teenager's uncle, Sam Galsworthy, said no-one on her father's side had any connection to her disappearance.
Seeking to end speculation and rumour, he told ITV News: "We want to make it absolutely clear that no member of Darren's side of the family are implicated in any way.
"Every family member who was part of our search for Rebecca still remains with us."
Hundreds of leaflets have been printed and a social media campaign, using the hashtag #FindBecky, has gained thousands of hits.
The total reach for the social media campaign to find her has been more than four million people worldwide.
Today's development came as Avon and Somerset Police carried out a search of a fourth property, erecting a large white tent at the front of a house in Barton Court, about three miles from Becky's home.
The property, in the Barton Hill area of Bristol, is a modern mid-terrace house and is in the street adjacent to Cotton Mill Lane, where forensic experts were examining a home yesterday.
Since Becky went missing, police have also carried out searches of her home in Crown Hill, St George, and a house in Wilton Close, Southmead.
A woman, who lives in Cotton Mill Lane near where forensic experts are examining two houses, spoke of her shock at today's developments.
"I just can't eat and I want to throw up - I am just devastated," the 63-year-old grandmother, who would only give her name as 'Jen', said.
"It's quiet around here and I keep myself to myself. All the kids go out and play around here."
The woman said she spent a lot of time in her kitchen, which looks away from both properties being searched so she did not see anything.
Fighting back tears, she added: "I'm scared to imagine that I might have missed her. I am totally devastated and I can't stop shaking and I feel so, so sorry for the parents - my heart goes out to them. That poor baby."
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