Brazil police find apparent human remains in river where UK reporter vanished

The discovery may be the biggest break in the case of missing journalist Dom Phillips his travel companion, indigenous expert Bruno Pereira

The ‘organic material’ is being sent for forensic analysis, along with blood found on a suspect’s boat

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A police boat patrols an area of the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil on Friday in search of missing indigenist Bruno Pereira and journalist Dom Phillips. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:42am, 11 Jun 2022Updated: 6:55am, 11 Jun 2022

Brazilian search teams have found “apparently human” remains in the river where a British journalist was last seen in the Amazon rainforest, police said on Friday, in what may be the biggest break yet for the five-day investigation.

The “organic material” is being sent for forensic analysis, federal police said, along with blood found on a suspect’s boat that will be compared with genetic material from journalist Dom Phillips and travel companion, indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.

A Brazilian judge had ordered the suspect, a fisherman charged with illegal possession of restricted ammunition, to be held for another 30 days while police investigate whether he is involved, according to a lawyer for a local indigenous group.

State Judge Jacinta Silva dos Santos said the proceedings are under seal and she could not comment on whether other audiences are planned for the fisherman Amarildo da Costa, known locally as “Pelado”.

Employees of the National Indigenous Foundation protest over missing British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian indigenous affairs specialist Bruno Pereira in Brasilia on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Police have said Costa was one of the last people to see Phillips and Pereira on Sunday, when they went missing after visiting the fisherman’s riverside community of Sao Gabriel.