A UK-based scientist has been brutally murdered in Colombia – and he was only found after children discovered his dismembered body parts.

The trained biologist was found packed into a suitcase and dumped into a stream in the Caribbean city of Santa Marta.

Police are said to have only found his head, hands and feet.

A search is still ongoing for his torso and remaining body parts.

Santa Marta’s mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello offered a handsome reward to anyone with information linked to his murder.

He offered nearly £10,000 to those with information which could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the man’s horrific killing.

The Mayor said: “I have instructed the authorities to join forces to solve the death of [the scientist’s name].

“We are offering a reward of fifty million Colombian pesos for information that will allow us to identify and capture those responsible.

“This crime will not go unpunished.

“Criminals must know that in Santa Marta criminality has no place.

“We will pursue them until they are brought to justice.”

The murdered man is believed to have been on holiday at the time, and was staying at a hotel in the city centre.

He was found on Monday in a stream by a road leading to the Sierra Nevada football stadium.

His corpse was identified by a hotel wristband on one of the parts of his body that was found.

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.