Maj. Zaki Al-Rihaili, acting spokesman for Makkah police, said the body was discovered after local people reported a foul smell in the vicinity.

He added that the apartment was in a building that is rented out during the Haj season.

“When police broke open the door, they found a body that was badly decomposed and had been tied by ropes. The man had also been stabbed several times in the chest and in the back,” he said.

Al-Rihaili said the man had died at least four days ago and that the building’s guard was missing. He said the body was taken to King Faisal Hospital for an autopsy to determine the cause and time of death.

He said officers from the Aziziyah police station are investigating the case and have collected evidence from the crime scene.

Al-Rihaili did not reveal the man’s nationality or age, but said efforts were being made to find his suspected killer.