Body parts were found near the Olympic beach volleyball venue on Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro.

Parts of a mutilated body have washed up on the sands of Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro just meters from the beach volleyball venue for the upcoming Olympics.

The discovery is the latest incident to unnerve the city as it grapples with rising crime, a recession and exhausted state finances at a time when it hoped to be celebrating the first Olympics to be held in South America.

Police officers said they found a foot and other body parts covered in a black plastic.

The officers said the parts had washed up from the sea in Copacabana, but had no further details to offer.

Violence is adding to the list worries about safety in Rio during the games, which take place from the 5th to the 21st of August.