Detectives investigating the murder of a 17-year-old Swiss girl in Galway yesterday have not ruled out the possibility that the killing may be linked to recent sexual assaults in the area.
are keeping an open mind about linking the killing to other recent assaults in the city.
Supt Tom Curley, who is leading the investigation into the killing of Manuela Riedo, said at this early stage there was no evidence linking the murder to the other attacks around Ceannt train station area but he was "keeping an open mind".
Ms Riedo's body was spotted by a passer-by at 9.25am yesterday in dense scrubland on the southern shore of Loughatalia, below the Dublin-Galway railway line.
A post mortem today revealed Ms Riedo had been strangled but detectives are not releasing any further details of her injuries.
The victim's family are due in Galway tomorrow and the Garda have appointed a liaison officer to work with them in conjunction with a representative from the Swiss Embassy.
Ms Riedo was among 43 students who travelled to Galway last weekend to attend a two-week English language course. They underwent counselling today.
Patrick Creed, of the Galway Language Centre, said the students were distraught and not expected to return to their classes.
"It's a delicate age for anyone to find out that something like this has happened to a friend, someone you've known, and also to be away from home and not in the support of your own family is obviously very difficult for them," Mr Creed said.
Ms Riedo was last seen on Monday at around 7-7.30pm when she left the Renmore Park home she was staying to meet students and teachers of the language course. However, she did not arrive and her body was found the following morning on the pedestrian walk between Ceannt Station and Garrison church.
Supt Curley asked for anyone who may have seen Ms Riedo, particularly near the area where she was found to come forward.
"We know that she used the walkway that runs parallel with the railway line and I'm appealing for anybody with information or that may have seen her on the Sunday and also on Monday," Supt Curley said.
CCTV footage from around the city was being examined students were being questioned as part of the investigation, he added.
Ms Riedo is described as five foot four inches in height and around nine stone with brown shoulder-length hair.
She was wearing a long grey and black coat with a red cardigan over a grey top beneath. Her jeans grey and her botts black suede. She was also carrying a large black large black handbag with a cherry pattern.