Police have launched a murder investigation on Shetland after a woman was found dead - believed to be the third homicide in 50 years.
The woman, who has not been named, was discovered just after 2am in Lerwick, the main port on the Shetland Isles.
Officers were alerted after concerns were raised, and officers from the Major Investigations Team are quizzing witnesses to establish the circumstances.
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Last year it was reported in the press that the Shetland Isles had only had two murders in 50 years.
A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "Police were called to the Ladies Drive area of Lerwick at around 2.05am this morning after concerns were raised for a woman found in the area.
"The woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and the circumstances surrounding the death are being treated as suspicious.
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Our enquiries are at an early stage and we have been speaking to a number of witnesses in order to establish the full circumstances.
"There will be a large police presence, including local officers and specialist officers from the Major Investigations Team, in the area over the coming days as our enquiries continue and we'd like to thank the public for their patience at this time."
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