South African police are investigating a photo on Facebook that shows a white man with a rifle posing with what appears to be the lifeless body of a black child.

The photo was posted on the social networking site in the profile of a user called “Eugene Terrorblanche.” The name is similar to that of a South African white separatist leader who was murdered last year.

While it is not clear whether the photo is real or manipulated, police are asking the public for help in identifying the people in the picture.

South Africa's Sunday Times newspaper says police began their probe after the paper showed the Facebook site to authorities.

The user, who has more than 500 Facebook friends, describes himself as self-employed, and lists his interests as knives, firearms and weapons.

The Times reports the photo was posted to Facebook in June of last year. It was no longer on the original user's profile page as of later Sunday, but had reappeared on other Facebook sites, including two protest groups.

Officials told the paper that anyone who produced or distributed the photo could have violated several laws, including South Africa's Children's Act, Films and Publications Act, and Criminal Procedure Act.