The lifeless body of a young woman has been found in Paceville close to Villa Rosa.

The discovery was made at about 6.00 p.m. and there are fears that the woman is one of two young women reported missing over the past few days.

The police and forensics experts swarmed over the area and the process of identifying the body and establishing the circumstances of the death was launched. The body was badly decomposed. A handbag was found close to the body.

The father of Polina Rahman, the 17-year-old Russian who went missing close to this site on Monday week, was on the scene. His daughter was reported missing two days after she arrived in Malta. Her parents arrived in Malta late last week and issued an appeal for information. Unconfirmed reports said the handbag found near the body belonged to their daughter.

A magisterial inquiry has been launched and an autopsy will be held.

Sources said that while nothing was being ruled out, the woman may have fallen from a low wall which borders the street overlooking the site.

The scene where the woman was found dead. Picture Darrin Zammit Lupi.