The severed badly decomposed head of a woman was found early this morning on a beach in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos.
According to reports, the head was discovered inside a plastic bag close to a large rubbish container near a restaurant.
It was in an ‘advanced stage of decomposition’.
Says Observador, some reports suggest it showed ‘bite marks’ from dogs – something that could ‘easily have happened given that it was discovered in an area where there are always a lot of dogs and seagulls’.
A man working for refuse collection company Ecorede called the grim discovery in between 9.30 and 10am.
Maritime police have confirmed that there are “no reports of anyone missing in the area”.
Commander Cruz Martins has also discounted the possibility that the bag could have been washed in by the tide.
Thorough searches of the area, including the contents of the rubbish container, have failed to reveal any further body parts.
The bag containing the head has been transported to Porto’s office of legal medicine while PJ police are now investigating.
