The body of a 12-year-old girl has been found in a suitcase in Paris, according to local reports.

Detectives launched a desperate search for the child after the alarm was raised yesterday.

She finished classes at the Georges-Brassens college at 3pm, but hadn’t returned home more than 20 minutes later, according to BFM TV.

Her mother reported her disappearance to police later that day.

The building’s surveillance footage was scanned by officers as part of their investigation.

CCTV footage showed the girl entering the building with a woman in her 20s, before the woman was later seen leaving with a suitcase.

Police checked the basement of the family home and reportedly found tape and a pair of cutters, leading to suggestions of a potential kidnapping.

Forensic officers could be seen combing the street last night (Picture: CL Press)

The suitcase was reportedly found by a homeless person (Picture: CL Press)

The suitcase was later found by a homeless person by the rui Manin apartment complex rue d’Hautpoul at around 11:20pm, La Depeche reported.

The teenager, who has not been named, was reportedly bound by her hands and foot, her face covered with tape inside the trunk.

She had several slashes across her throat. An autopsy will be performed today.

Video from CL Press showed forensic investigators combing the street and armed police outside the building.

Three people were arrested yesterday evening, including a man who informed emergency services after discovering the suitcase.

More: News

Another person was detained in the northwestern suburb of Bois-Colombes this morning.

The Paris Public Prosecutors Office is understood by the media to have opened an investigation into the ‘murder of a minor under 15’.

Metro.co.uk contacted Paris Police Prefecture for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

The teenager, who has not been named, was reportedly bound by her hands and foot, her face covered with tape inside the trunk.