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Police are investigating whether a woman whose body was found near a shopping centre in Melbourne's north had been followed off a tram and sexually assaulted.
Passersby came across the woman's body about 7:00am behind a hedge near the Polaris shopping centre, on Main Drive in Bundoora, close to the intersection of Plenty Road.
Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper of the homicide squad said the woman, who is yet to be identified, appeared to have been assaulted.
"It seems that the female has been assaulted, and that's really all I'm prepared to say at this time."
Asked whether the woman had been sexually assaulted, Detective Inspector Stamper said this would be "an active line of inquiry".
"It's very early days and I'm very limited in what I can say."
Detective Inspector Stamper said investigators were also trying to determine whether the woman may have been followed off the Route 86 tram, which runs from Melbourne's CBD to Bundoora, and has a stop near where the woman's body was found.
"We don't know at that moment, we're working really hard to get the answers to that, but obviously with the proximity to the tram stop, that's an active line of inquiry at the moment," he said.
"Anyone who may have been travelling on the number 86 tram ... if they saw anything suspicious, if they saw anyone get off the tram at this location [please contact us]."
Detectives are appealing for information, and are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area between 11:00pm and 1:00am.
"Police will look at CCTV and speak to residents of local apartments and homes," Detective Inspector Stamper said.
He also said any witnesses or people who were driving past the area last night should contact police.
Police plan to increase their presence in the area in the wake of the discovery of the woman's body.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, crime, murder-and-manslaughter, bundoora-3083, vic
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