A man has been arrested after the remains of a person, possibly of a woman who has been missing since 2008, were found in Valletta, the police said.

In a statement, the police said that Sliema District police and the Homicide Department discovered the remains in the Valletta area. The statement did not say when the remains were found, with reports saying that they were located in an opening in the bastions in the outskirts of the capital city, close to 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.

She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black shirt and white jogging shoes. She was driving a Toyota Platz in Valletta.

Police had issued several public appeals urging anyone to come forward with information about her disappearance, but despite the pleas she had never been found.

The latest development – the finding of the remains – comes after the arrest of a man for an attempted hold-up in Gzira earlier this week. 

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

The police are treating the case as a homicide.

Investigations are being led by Inspector James Grech from the Homicide Unit together with Inspector Jonathan Ransley from the Sliema district.

No further details were provided by the police.

Magistrate Audrey Demicoli is leading an inquiry.