World

Search underway for clothes of Swedish journalist after torso found

Swedish journalist Kim Wall. Her family says she was working on a story about Peter Madsen who dreamed of launching a manned space mission
Swedish journalist Kim Wall. Her family says she was working on a story about Peter Madsen who dreamed of launching a manned space mission Swedish journalist Kim Wall. Her family says she was working on a story about Peter Madsen who dreamed of launching a manned space mission

THE headless torso of a Swedish reporter who is believed to have died on a submarine that later sank was found naked and a search is under way for her clothes, Danish police said.

Kim Wall (30), was last seen alive on August 10 aboard the submarine of Danish aerospace and submarine enthusiast Peter Madsen.

Police have arrested him on suspicion of manslaughter.

Copenhagen police spokesman Steen Hansen said investigators found a "clothes-less" torso.

He said investigators were looking for her clothes, including an orange turtleneck blouse, a black-and-white skirt and white sneakers.

Divers and members of the Danish Emergency Management Agency were combing the coast of the Amager island in Copenhagen, in the area where Ms Wall is believed to have died.

A cyclist discovered the torso on Monday, and Copenhagen police later said the body's head, arms and legs had "deliberately been cut off".

Madsen initially told police he had let Ms Wall off the submarine on an island.

According to her family, she was working on a story about Madsen (46), who dreamed of launching a manned space mission.

He later told police he buried Ms Wall at sea after an accident aboard his submarine, UC3 Nautilus.

The story has caught worldwide attention. On Wednesday, a candlelight vigil was held by classmates at the Columbia University's School of Journalism in New York, where Ms Wall studied.

Norway-based investor Georg Poul Artmann, who holds about 75 per cent of the shares in the Rocket Madsen Space Lab company that owns the 40-ton, nearly 18 metre (60ft) long submarine, told Denmark's Berlingske newspaper he will "clean up" within the company following recent events but gave no details.

Mr Artmann said his fascination with space had prompted him to invest 250,000 Danish kroner (£31,000) to support Madsen's space activities.

He also said Madsen was the company's day-to-day leader and as "an investor I have not interfered in the daily operations".