A body has been found in a suitcase in the sea off the Sliema Ferries promenade, the police have confirmed.

The police were alerted to the scene when the suitcase was seen floating around at around 1.30pm, the police said in a statement

Upon retrieving it and opening it, the police made the grim discovery of a dead person inside.

The identity of the victim is still to be established.

The Times of Malta later reported that the case is being treated as a murder, quoting sources as saying that they believe the victim was killed recently and the body was placed in a bag in a different location.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia is leading an inquiry.

No further details are available at this stage.