Murdered men not yet identified

Forensic experts are examining the scene

The police are still trying to identify two men found dead by a roadside in County Down.

Officers are waiting for the results of postmortem examinations on the men, whose bodies were dumped near Warrenpoint on Wednesday.

They suffered brutal and violent deaths and had multiple injuries, according to detectives.

A murder investigation was launched following the discovery of the bodies.

Police officers search the surrounding area

A security operation was mounted after a man out walking discovered one of the bodies on the Mound Road, a mile and half from the town.

The second body was found after a close examination by the security forces.

Police in the Republic of Ireland, the Garda Siochana, and Interpol are helping police with the investigation.

Crew records on ships docked at Warrenpoint were checked but no-one appeared to be missing.

'Baffled'

The men's bodies were moved from the scene on Thursday afternoon.

SDLP assembly member PJ Bradley said the local community was "baffled" by the murders.

Mr Bradley appealed for anyone who could offer information as to the identities of the bodies to come forward.

Chief inspector Hagan is leading investigation

Sinn Fein assembly member Mick Murphy denied republicans were involved in the incident.

The police said the first man found dead was clothed in a cardigan with green, red and blue horizontal stripes and a light green polo shirt, worn under the cardigan.

He also had a gold earring in his left ear and was between 20 and 30-years of age and had dark hair.

The second man was wearing a blue t-shirt and blue track bottoms.

Detectives have asked anyone who recognises the description or who has concerns about a missing friend or relative to contact them.

The man leading the investigation, Chief Inspector Gary Hagan, appealed to the public to bear in mind the fact the murders may have taken place away from the scene.

"I would ask members of the public who have perhaps come upon an area where there is perhaps blood or where they feel that some sort of violent struggle took place to contact the police," he said.