British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday he was “shocked” and “deeply saddened” by the disappearance of a Londoner on her way home, which caused great emotion and led to numerous testimonies from women about the threats experienced on a daily basis.
• Read also: United Kingdom: police officer suspected of murder of missing young woman
Sarah Everard, 33, had visited friends in Clapham, south London, and was returning to her home in Brixton, about a 50-minute walk away, when she disappeared around 9:30 p.m. on March 3.
Extremely rare, a policeman in his forties belonging to a unit of the London police force responsible for protecting diplomatic representations has been arrested.
Initially suspected in this case for kidnapping, he is now accused of murder. Human remains have been found, but have not yet been identified.
“I am shocked and deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation,” Boris Johnson said in a tweet. “We must work quickly to find all the answers to this horrible crime.”
Arrested Tuesday evening, the police officer accused of murder is also suspected of separate facts of sexual exhibition. A woman in her thirties was also arrested on suspicion of complicity.
Following the disappearance, an important search device was deployed. Human remains have been found near the town of Ashford, south-east London, Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick revealed on Wednesday evening.
But the police are for the moment “not able to identify (them)”, she indicated, adding that “it could take a considerable time”.
Sarah’s disappearance and the research that followed shocked and moved many women who identified with their 30s.
“Many women have shared their stories and concerns online since Sarah disappeared. They are so powerful because all women can find their way, ”Interior Minister Priti Patel said on Twitter.
“Every woman should feel safe walking our streets, without fear of being assaulted or abused,” she added.
According to a YouGov poll for UN Women UK, 80% of women of all ages report having experienced harassment in public places, with 97% of women aged 18-24 reporting being sexually harassed.
