Liam Payne death probe update as hotel 'raided by police again'

The hotel where Liam Payne died has reportedly been raided again by police. The 31-year-old singer died at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last month.

He suffered 'multiple traumas' and is understood to have died 'instantly' when he fell from the balcony of his third floor hotel room on October 16. Video footage reportedly captured three police officers donning blue vests, backpacks and shoulder bags leaving the hotel on Tuesday, November 5.

One officer was seen to be carrying a cardboard box and multiple loose items under his arm. Officers were then spotted putting the items into the boot of a police car parked outside the hotel.

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A source told US Weekly: Operations carried out by the City Police [and] requested by the prosecutor Andrés Madrea [were] within the framework of the case that is under summary secrecy." The apparent raid this week comes after an initial search of the hotel on October 23.

The first raid was carried out to identify staff members who had been working at the hotel on the day of Payne's death and during the days leading up to his passing, according to US Weekly. Officers were understood to be looking for documents within the hotel’s registration books, along with information from hotel computers.

Sources at the time said that the 'hotel must provide' more security camera footage in relation to the One Direction star's death. According to Argentinian journalist Paula Verela, who appeared on a Buenos Aires-based TV station Canal 13 last month, security footage suggested Payne fainted before falling to his death.

Verela's claim seemed to be in line with findings from a preliminary autopsy, which indicated that he 'may have fallen in a state of semi or total unconsciousness'. Payne 'did not adopt a reflexive posture to protect himself' during the fall.

According to US Weekly, local authorities are also investigating who sold drugs to the dad-of-one. A source said: "They are looking to investigate who sold the drugs to Payne and how those substances reached the room."

The source went on to say that 'it cannot be ruled out that the substances were provided by someone from the hotel'. But this has not been confirmed.

An employee of the CasaSur Hotel previously declined to comment, US Weekly said. Preparations to repatriate Payne's body are believed to be underway.

His body could return to the UK in the coming days, with a funeral held soon after. Reports suggest his funeral could take place in his home city of Wolverhampton - but this is yet to be confirmed.