Headless torso is that of missing Swedish journalist

Police this morning confirmed that a headless torso discovered nearCopenhagen is that of missing Swedish journalist Kim Wall.

Kim Wall, a 30-year-old reporter, was aboard Madsen’s submarine on assignment when she disappeared more than a week ago. Police said Wednesday the torso – which was found without a head, legs or arms – is the remains of Wall.

“The length of the torso means that there is nothing to suggest that it is not Kim Wall, but we do not yet know”, he added.

The Copenhagen police’s vice-president, Jens Møller, said at a press conference that blood found on the Nautilus, which was recovered after Madsen seemingly sunk it, matched DNA on a toothbrush and hairbrush used by Wall.

The submarine sank hours after the search for the journalist began, and Mr Madsen was charged with negligent manslaughter.

Julia Jacobo contributed to this reported.

Mr Madsen’s lawyer, Betina Hald Engmark, said the news that the torso was Ms Wall did not change her client’s position, that the journalist had died in an accident. Police believed he deliberately scuttled the vessel to cover up what had happened.

After being pulled from the water, Madsen had initially said Wall had been dropped off in the port of Copenhagen earlier.

The submarine was the biggest of its kind when Madsen completed it in 2008.

He was rescued a day after his UC3 Nautilus submarine sank.

As the investigation of the case is still covered by “closed doors”, no further information can be given.

Madsen has said she died after an “accident” onboard.

Wall joined Madsen for a ride on his submarine but the submarine sank.

Ms Wall’s family expressed “boundless grief” after receiving the news of her death.

She wrote articles on a range of topics for publications including New York Times, Time, Foreign Police, and the Guardian.

The Submarine UC3 Nautilus is lifted onto a block truck from the salvage ship Vina with the help of a container crane in Copenhagen’s Harbor, on August 12, 2017. “We sincerely hope that she will be found and that she is well”.