Mystery surrounding body parts found in Melbourne river solved with victim finally identified

A man whose body parts were found in a Melbourne river has been identified.

Police say the remains belong to 32-year-old Brendan David Bernard.

"The North Melbourne man was known to police however investigators have not been able to establish the motive for his death and or the gruesome dismemberment," Victoria Police said in a statement.

Mr Bernard's last known movements were in Melbourne's CBD on January 27.

His remains, including three severed limbs and two bags of flesh, were discovered scattered throughout the Maribyrnong River at Moonee Ponds about a week later.