Warning: This story contains details and content that some readers may find distressing.
Police in Scotland are investigating how a "severed head" was picked up from a street by Halloween partygoers who mistook it for part of a festive costume.
Officers in the city of Edinburgh set up two forensic tents in the Cowgate district on Saturday evening and later confirmed that a 74-year-old man had died after being hit by a single-decker bus, reports the Telegraph.
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Social media videos showed revellers in fancy dress picking up the head, possibly thinking it was a Halloween prop, before dropping it in horror.
Police Scotland said it was aware of "videos and images circulating on social media" and urged these not to be shared because they were causing distress to the victim's family and those who inadvertently watched them.
The claims that a severed head had been found have not been directly confirmed by police.
People celebrating Halloween in the popular nighttime district told UK media pubs and bars were closed on orders of police when they were called to the scene on Saturday.
Patrons were asked to leave the area by officers.
Chief Inspector Trisha Clark, of Police Scotland, said: "We are aware of videos and images circulating on social media which are causing distress to the deceased's family and those viewing them inadvertently.
"We would ask members of the public not to share them out of respect for his family, and to report them to the relevant social media platform to prevent further circulation.
"There has been a lot of speculation, and I would like to reassure the local community that this was an isolated incident and there is no risk to the wider public.
"This was a tragic incident. We are investigating a crash, and our road policing officers, assisted by local officers, are continuing to carry out enquiries."
