Sarah Everard
A Met police officer continues to be questioned on suspicion of murder and kidnap after human remains were found in the search for Sarah Everard.
They were discovered in a forest near Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday, but investigators have not yet been able to confirm their identity.
Mrs. Everard, 33, was last seen on March 3 in Clapham, South London, on her way home from a friend's house.
Mit police said the arrest "sent a shock" through the force.
The officer was arrested in Kent and is also being questioned about a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
The "Covid-secure" event is scheduled to be held in Clapham Kumon on Saturday evening.
She planned the vigil for Sarah Everard while the women shared the concerns
Evard, a marketing executive, was last seen in a video at the doorbell as she was walking alone on a major road near Clapham at 21:30 GMT, as police said it was unclear if she had reached her home in Brixton.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "deeply shocked and saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation.
"Like the whole country, my thoughts are with her family and friends. We must act quickly to find all the answers to this horrific crime," he added.
Interior Minister Priti Patel said she was "very sad about the developments," adding that "every woman should feel safe to walk our streets without fear of harassment or violence.
And Ms. Cressida Dick confirmed in a televised statement that the officers who were searching an area near Ashford "found, unfortunately, what appeared to be human remains."
The Met Police Commissioner said the specialist officers shared the investigation information with Ms. Everard's family.
Mrs. Cressida added: "Sarah's disappearance in these horrific and sinister circumstances is every family's worst nightmare.
“I know Londoners will want to know that it is extremely rare for a woman to be kidnapped from our streets.
"But I fully understand that despite this, women in London and the wider public - particularly in the area where Sarah disappeared - will feel anxious and possibly frightened.
Dam Cressida said that arresting a dead police officer on suspicion of having committed a murder "sent waves of shock and anger among the public and across the entire park."
"I speak on behalf of all of my colleagues in Met when I say that we are completely horrified by this terrible news," she added. "Our job is to patrol the streets and protect people."
Hundreds of officers have been recruited to assist in the investigation as searches continued in South London and Kent.
The arrested officer was responsible for conducting uniformed patrols of diplomatic buildings - including Downing Street and the Palace of Westminster, as well as foreign embassies in London.
He was out of service at the time of Mrs. Everard's disappearance.
A woman in her 30s was also arrested in Kent on Tuesday evening on suspicion of aiding a guilty party.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his thoughts were with Everard, her friends and family.
The former Durham University student, originally from York, is seen wearing a green rain jacket, navy blue pants with a white diamond pattern, and turquoise and orange sneakers.
The case was referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) as it concerns a police officer.
A spokesman said it had been decided that the Metropolitan Police would investigate any potential behavioral cases linked to the same allegations of kidnapping and murder.
The IOPC is currently assessing whether any further measures regarding police action should be taken after Ms Everard's loss is reported.
If it turns out that a police officer is involved, there will be a "very strong sense of betrayal from the top [of the organization] to the ranks and the file," said Daniel Sandford, the BBC's Home Affairs correspondent.
He said that the force would also feel that Londoners "above all" will be betrayed "because they feel deeply proud that their job is to protect Londoners and now here is one of their officers suspected of doing so. Exactly the opposite in the worst way possible.
Source:
BBC
