| 29 July 2026

Greek police at the scene in the Kypseli district in Athens

The body of a Scottish woman has been found inside a suitcase in an abandoned building in Greece.

Police Scotland said they are liaising with Greek authorities after she was reportedly discovered by a homeless man in the Kypseli district in Athens on 18 July.

Elisabeth-Jane Ross, 38, is thought to have travelled to Greece from Cyprus last month, state broadcaster ERT reports.

She is believed to have died between five and seven days before she was found.

Police in Greece said the cause of death had not yet been determined as they are awaiting test results from the medical examiner.

Helena Smith, The Guardian's correspondent in Athens, told BBC Radio Scotland that Ross is believed to have arrived in Greece about two weeks before her death.

She said: "She was found in a derelict building in downtown Athens, in an area that is booming, full of Airbnbs.

"It is very popular with people travelling through Athens and young foreigners who have elected to make the Greek capital their home."

Smith said that Ross had family in Edinburgh and "connections" to Greece - staying with a friend in Athens before she disappeared.

She added: "It would seem that someone had control over her mobile phone after she died and was sending messages to distract the authorities and close friends from trying to track her down."

Police in Greece said they were awaiting further information from the British authorities regarding the body's identification.

A spokesperson said: "Further details have been requested regarding when she arrived in Greece, how, and with whom.

"We cannot provide further details at this stage, as the investigation is fully under way."

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) confirmed they are providing consular support and are in contact with the local authorities.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We are aware of the death of Scottish woman in Athens and are liaising with authorities in Greece.

"Officers are providing support to her family in Scotland."

End of article.