UK police say body of missing woman found

LONDON

British police on Friday announced that have recovered the body of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old woman who went missing on her way home in south London and was last seen on March 3.

“The body has now been recovered and a formal identification procedure has been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard,” said Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave.

Everard was the subject of a huge search operation and the case has been widely reported in local media.

A serving Met police officer was arrested this week on suspicion of kidnap and murder. He is still in custody.

The case has sparked a national conversation on women’s safety, with mounting calls on the government to better protect women.

On Twitter, women have publicly explained the great lengths they go to keep themselves safe – from clutching keys between their fingers to messaging friends on their way home. They also called out instances of sexual harassment and assault.

There is a vigil planned on Saturday in Everard’s memory, and activists are calling it “Reclaim The Streets” in a call to action to allow women to walk where they wish without fear of being attacked.