The Hotel in Frankfurt where the exorcism took place

Five South Koreans have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of a woman in an apparent exorcism ritual in the German city of Frankfurt.

Police discovered the 41-year-old woman in a hotel room on Saturday after being alerted by a Catholic priest, according to prosecutor Nadja Niesen.

She said the suspects - a 44-year-old woman, her 21-year-old son and 19-year-old daughter, and two 15-year-old boys - were relatives of the woman, one of them being her son.

Ms Niesen said the suspects, who arrived in Germany six weeks ago, wanted to expel a "demon" they believed had possessed the woman.

She said they exerted "massive force on her chest and stomach area" while stuffing a towel and clothes hanger into her mouth to stop her screaming.

Online Editors