PANIC has spread throughout Katherine in the Northern Territory following the mysterious deaths of three Aborigines in the Katherine River over the past week.

The unease was heightened after a badly decomposed body was found by tourists in the river near Morrows Farm, about 300km south of Darwin, about 2.30pm (CDT) yesterday.

To alleviate the concern and to search for clues, major crime detectives from Darwin and Aboriginal community police officers have joined forces to investigate the deaths.

"I guess it's unusual and we are concerned from (a) policing point of view and taking it extremely seriously," Katherine Police Acting Sergeant Willem Westra Van Holthe.

"We are trying to find a link but it's not clear whether they are linked at all – we've got three very similar circumstances," Sgt Westra Van Holthe said.

The body of Rex John Owen, 39, was found last Saturday, about 300m from the Katherine boat ramp, while the body of Edward Forbes, 31, was found last Sunday about 1km downstream of the boat ramp, lodged against a tree.

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