Woman's body in suitcase on Perth river

Police are yet to identify a woman whose body was found in a suitcase floating on Perth's Swan River.

The black suitcase was spotted on East Fremantle waters around 7.30am on Saturday by fishermen who pulled it in.

Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Taylor said the Asian woman was estimated to be aged between 35 and 45, and was wearing a distinctive Tokyo Disneyland t-shirt.

Several decorative ceramic tiles were also in the suitcase, he said.

He would not speculate on the purpose of the tiles or condition of the woman's body, although early indications suggested she may have died in the past week.

The death was being treated as a homicide, he said, and police wanted information from anyone who saw suspicious activity along the river.

"It is a horrible death, absolutely," Det Snr Sgt Taylor told reporters on Monday.

"We're calling on the assistance of the public to identify this woman. Ordinarily, we wouldn't go to this forum to identify someone but we have very little to go from.

"A post mortem will be conducted over the next two days and that will determine injuries sustained, if there are any."

Police divers are searching the area, including the foreshore in Mosman Park.

Det Snr Sgt said inquiries were being made internationally, including through Interpol.

"We have searched fingerprints and DNA Australia-wide already without luck."