A man in his 40s who died after falling from a motorway bridge had been confronted by online paedophile hunters the previous day, it is understood.
Avon and Somerset Police arrested the man on Friday evening during a livestream by self-proclaimed “child protection service” groups.
After being released from custody on Saturday, he was seen falling from height on to the M4 at about 6.40pm, before being hit by vehicles travelling between junctions 20 (Almondsbury) and 21 (Awkley).
His death is being treated as non-suspicious and his next of kin are being supported, the force said.
The force has referred itself to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), as is mandatory after a death occurs following police contact, and is preparing a file for the coroner.
A police spokeswoman said: “We understand this incident may be distressing for some people and we urge you to seek support should you need it.
“You can speak with your GP or reach out to charities such as Mind and Samaritans, who offer support online and over the phone.
“We would ask people not to speculate during this time and to respect the family’s privacy.
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“We would like to thank people for their patience and understanding while the road closures were in place. We understand this would have had an impact on many road users and we thank you for bearing with us.”
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In posts on Facebook, the groups involved in the sting asked for people to “allow his family to grieve in a respectful manner”.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK
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