Kim Wall: Severed arm found by divers in sea near Copenhagen may belong to murdered Swedish journalist
Limb found near route taken by submarine belonging to prime suspect Peter Madsen
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A severed arm found by divers in the sea near Copenhagen may belong to the murdered Swedish journalist Kim Wall, Danish police have said.
The limb was found close to the route that the submarine belonging to Danish inventor Peter Madsen took on the day of her death.
“We have not yet determined if this is a right or left arm or who the arm belongs to. But we are working from a perspective that it stems from the submarine case,” police spokesperson Jens Moller Jensen said in a statement.
Mr Madsen, the prime suspect in the murder of Ms Wall, has admitted dismembering her body, but denies killing her.
The 46-year-old told police he had mutilated Wall's corpse aboard his submarine and dumped her body parts in the sea after she died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
He claimed he was above deck at the time of her death.
Wall disappeared on 10 August after joining Mr Madsen on his submarine as part of a feature she was writing about the inventor.
On 21 August her torso was found on the Danish coast before police divers discovered her head, legs and clothing in weighted bags on 6 October.
After his arrest, Mr Madsen claimed Wall had died in a “terrible accident” after being hit on the head by the vessel’s hatch, which he let go after losing his footing. A post-mortem found no fractures to Wall’s skull.
But investigators did find stab wounds around her ribs and genitals which were likely caused “around or shortly after her death”.
Mr Madsen initially said he had dropped Wall off in Copenhagen on 10 August. After then claiming she died from a blow to the head from a hatch, police now say the inventor told them she died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Mr Madsen was arrested after his submarine sank and he was rescued. Investigators say the vessel was sunk deliberately.
Police also said footage of women being tortured, strangled and beheaded were found on a computer belonging to Mr Madsen. He denied the videos were his, saying the device was used by a number of his staff, including an intern.
Mr Madsen's lawyer said her client has not admitted any wrongdoing.
Timeline of Kim Wall’s death:
10 August: Kim Wall boards submarine owned by Peter Madsen.
11 August: Madsen rescued then arrested after submarine sinks, while Swedish police declare Wall is missing.
23 August: Human torso washed up on Danish coast two days earlier announced as belonging to Wall.
5 September: Madsen testifies in court that Wall died after being accidentally hit on the head by the submarine’s hatch.
6 October: Bags containing Wall’s head, legs clothes found by police divers.
30 October: Police announce Madsen now says Wall died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
22 November: Arm discovered by divers in sea near Copenhagen.
8 March – 25 April 2018: Trial scheduled to take place.