“We can confirm that it is a woman whom we believe was slain and we have therefore launched a preliminary investigation into murder or manslaughter,” police spokesman Lars Byström told news agency TT.

It was a cleaner who found the woman’s body in one of the guestrooms at the four-star Hotel Birger Jarl on Saturday afternoon. Hotel staff called the police around 1.30pm and just 20 minutes later a preliminary police investigation was already underway.

Hotel manager Marianne Hultberg told reporters that the cleaner had first thought the woman was asleep. She was later questioned by police officers and Hultberg said she was doing well considering the circumstances.

Police also questioned other staff members and hotel guests and conducted a forensic investigation at the hotel.

The first floor, just above the hotel lobby, was cordoned off and people entering the hotel were asked to confirm that they were booked-in guests.

Byström did not want to comment on what the slain woman’s age might have been. He said the police would only share restricted information about the investigation as they were still trying to confirm the victim’s identity.

“If you are staying at the hotel you may have heard or seen something so we are of course trying to get in contact with other guests at the hotel,” crime scene investigator Sven-Erik Olsson told tabloid Aftonbladet.

Hultberg told the tabloid Expressen that hotel managers were giving guests as much information as possible. “But you also have to remember that it happens that people die in hotels,” she added.

The police cordons were reportedly removed on Saturday night, but the victim had still not been identified, there were no known murder suspects and police had made no arrests.

Hultberg said the first-floor room where the dead body was found would be cleaned and rented out as usual on Sunday.

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