Boris Johnson has said the UK government is “deeply concerned” by the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of British journalist Dom Phillips, after Theresa May called on the prime minister to make the case a “diplomatic priority”.
May raised Phillips ‘case during questions from the prime minister, citing correspondence with Phillips’ niece Dominique Davis, one of his constituents. Johnson said the UK had offered to support Brazilian search teams looking for Phillips and fellow traveler Bruno Pereira, an indigenous expert.
Phillips, who worked with the Guardian for a long time, and Pereira disappeared on the morning of June 5 while returning from a four-day reporting trip to the Javari region of the Amazon. Phillips’ family has said they have lost hope of finding him alive.
On Tuesday, the Brazilian ambassador to the United Kingdom apologized to Phillips’ family for incorrectly telling them that his body had been found in the Amazon tied to a tree along with Pereira’s.
Forensic teams have been examining an area where indigenous volunteer searchers found objects belonging to the two men who went missing on Saturday afternoon. But contrary to what information the embassy passed on to Phillips’ family, the men have not yet been found.
In the exchange to the Commons, May called on the government to “make the case a diplomatic priority and … do everything possible to ensure that the Brazilian authorities put the necessary resources to find out the truth to find out what happened to Dom and Bruno “. ”.
Johnson said the government would provide the necessary support to help uncover the circumstances of the couple’s disappearance.
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“We are deeply concerned about what may have happened to him,” he said. “[Foreign Office] Officials are working closely with the Brazilian authorities, the responsible minister has repeatedly raised the issue of the search and rescue effort with the Brazilian Minister of Justice and Public Security. We have told the Brazilians that we are ready to offer all the support they may need. “
Brazilian police said Wednesday they had arrested a second man in connection with the “alleged murder” of Phillips and Pereira. Federal police said a series of bullet casings and an oar had been confiscated while executing two search warrants.