Malaga Airport
The body of the man was found at Malaga airport Reuters

A murder investigation has been launched after a British man was found dead, bound to a bench with his trousers and underwear pulled down outside Malaga Airport, Spain. The body of Steven Allford, 51, was discovered on Friday (21 October).

Police sources believe that Allford was choked to death and possibly sexually assaulted, but they are waiting on a post mortem examination to confirm the claims.

A security guard is said to have made the discovery shortly before 9am.

The Daily Mail reported Allford is said to have been found bound by one arm to an end of the bench. His legs were also reportedly cable tied together.

Shocked tourists filmed the moment Allford's body, covered in a white body bag, was put onto a stretcher and taken away.

A police cordon could be seen and investigators searched the area for clues.

Officers are also examining CCTV. A source said: "There were no obvious signs of violence on his body but the position he was found in suggested foul play."

Allford was identified by documents found among belongings in a trolley next to his body. Police are attempting to identify what he was doing at the airport and whether he had missed a flight home or had been sleeping rough.

Spanish media sources reported that the man found on the bench was homeless.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with local authorities following reports of a British man found dead in Malaga, Spain." She confirmed they are pressing for more information.

It is yet to be established where in the UK Allford was from.

Malaga Airport is Spain's fourth largest airport and serves 14 million passengers a year. No flights were affected.