Shock as Woman is Found Dead Without Her Head During a Search for Missing Journalist

MISSING: Kim Wall (left) is missing after she boarded a submarine (right) to write a feature

The headless body of a woman has been discovered in the search for missing Swedish journalist Kim Wall – but cops say it's too early to tell if it's her, Daily Star UK reports.

A cyclist made the gruesome discovery by a water's edge and the torso was also without its arms and legs.

It comes after Ms Wall was last seen on Danish inventor Peter Madsen's submarine on August 10.

Mr Madsen has been charged with negligent manslaughter and reportedly told a court on Monday Ms Wall's death was an accident and that he'd "buried" her at sea.

He claims he left the body at a location south of Copenhagen.

A search operation using divers, helicopters and ships was launched on Friday, BBC reports.

The woman's remains have since been sent for forensic testing after the savage finding by divers.

Copenhagen spokesman Jens Moller said: "It is clear that the police, like the media and everybody else, is speculating whether this female body is Kim Wall, but it is way too soon to tell."

Mr Madsen's lawyer, Betina Hald Engmark, denied the 46-year-old had admitted any wrongdoing.

She said: "My client has not confessed to anything, my client still pleads not guilty to the charges against him."

The submarine had apparently sunk after Ms Wall, 30, was on board researching a feature about the home-made 40-tonne submarine.

Police believe he deliberately sunk the submarine.