Dom Phillips: Four witnesses interviewed by Brazilian police as criminal investigation into missing British journalist | World News

Brazilian police have begun a criminal investigation into the disappearance of a British journalist in the Amazon jungle.

Dom Phillips went missing on Sunday with Bruno Araujo Pereiraa local indigenous expert and former government official whose job was to protect unconnected tribes in Brazil.

Officers interviewed at least four witnesses who are believed to be among those who last saw Mr Phillips, a freelancer who has written for The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times and other publications .

Guilherme Torres, head of the interior division of the Amazonas state civil police, told Reuters news agency that Mr Pereira had recently received a threatening letter from a local fisherman, whom police were trying to locate.

He said his colleagues interviewed two fishermen as witnesses on Monday, and two more were questioned on Tuesday.

The first two witnesses did not provide any useful information, and Mr. Torres did not have details about the second two interviews.

“We’re really working on the hypothesis that a crime might have happened, but there’s another, much larger possibility, that they’ve gone missing,” he said.

“Now, our priority is to find them alive, especially in these early hours. At the same time, a criminal investigation has been opened to see if any crime has been committed. or not.”

The Brazilian Navy and Army have both sent search teams on boats and helicopters to find the couple and are being supported by federal and state police officers.

Mr. Phillips, 57, and his guide went missing during a reported trip in the Javari Valley.

On the Peruvian border, the vast area is home to the world’s largest number of non-communicating indigenous peoples and is
threatened by illegal miners, loggers, hunters and coca-growing gangs who make the raw material for cocaine.

Mr. Torres said he could not rule out that their disappearance was linked to gangs operating in the lawless area.

According to a representative of the Union of Indigenous Peoples of the Javari Valley, the couple joined an indigenous patrol that was threatened by armed men on Saturday.

They are said to have recorded the confrontation on mobile phones.

The disappearance of two men, both of whom had years of experience working in the complex and friendly Amazon rainforest, has prompted global concern from human rights groups, environmentalists, politicians, and others. politicians and free press advocates.

Mr. Phillips’ wife, Alessandra Sampaio, urged authorities to step up their search efforts in an emotional television interview, “because we still have some hope of finding them.”

“Even if I don’t find the love of my life, please find them,” she added.

On Monday, his sister Sian Phillips tells Sky News she’s worried There was illegal logging and drug dealing in the area where he disappeared.

“I’m very nervous. I’m extremely worried. That’s your worst fear,” Ms. Phillips said.

“We need everything thrown at this. We want UK officials to pressure the Brazilian authorities to act.”

Mr Pereira’s family released a statement calling for a vigorous search, adding that “we also very much hope that there has been an accident with the boat and they are awaiting help.” .

President Jair Bolsonaro said in a television interview on Tuesday that the two men were “on an unsolicited adventure”.

“It could have been an accident, it could have been them being executed, anything could have happened,” he said. “I hope, and
we pray to the Lord, that they will soon be found. “

The Brazilian leader faced tough questions from Mr. Phillips at press conferences about policies that have undermined the country’s environmental law enforcement.

Indigenous patrols have repeatedly complained of weaker environmental law enforcement since Bolsonaro came to power and called for easing restrictions on tribal lands in the Javari Valley.

They also frequently clash with illegal miners and hunters in the area.

Mr. Phillips researched a book about the Amazon and its environmentalists.