A dead body was found at sea near Fomm ir-Riħ and brought ashore on Wednesday afternoon, police said in a statement.

Police said that the body was spotted at around 3:30pm and brought ashore by an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat at Marfa.

The police were not able to identify the body because it is in an advanced state of decomposition.

Magistrate Philip Galea Farrugia is leading an inquiry while an autopsy is expected to take place in order to establish the cause of death.