The woman whose remains were found on Saturday is believed to have been killed in another place, TVM reports.

Preliminary investigations also indicate that the remains belong to a woman aged between 20 and 30.

On Saturday, the police said that a man was being held for questioning in connection with the macabre discovery.

The remains were found in an opening in the bastions behind the Phoenicia Hotel. Police officers were seen lifting items from a ditch that used to serve as a parking lot, with steps leading to the Tritons Fountain square.

The police added that it had been investigating the disappearance of a woman from St Paul’s Bay since 2008, implying that the remains were hers.

The remains could possibly be those of Charlene Farrugia, aged 25, who was reported missing in November 2008.

The breakthrough in the case arrived after the police arrested a man in connection with an attempted hold-up in Gzira last week.

The police said that forensic examinations will give further details on the identity of the person.