Brazil: police confirm that Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira were killed by firearm – Le Monde

A demonstration of support in honor of journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian expert on indigenous populations Bruno Pereira, in Sao Polo, Brazil, June 18, 2022. ANDRE PENNER / AP Brazilian police confirmed, Saturday June 18, that Brazilian expert on indigenous populations Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips, whose remains were found in a remote area of ​​the Amazon, had been killed by “gunfire”. The remains of Mr. Pereira “are among those” found by investigators, the Brazilian Federal Police (PF) also announced in a statement. On Friday, she had already said that the first human remains discovered on Wednesday on the indication of a suspect were those of Dom Phillips. Mr. Pereira was hit by three shots, including one in the head, and Mr. Phillips by a bullet in the chest, the federal police further specified. They were last seen on June 5, when they took a boat to Atalaia do Norte (north-west), in the Javari Valley, an area known to be dangerous where multiple drug trafficking, fishing or illegal gold mining. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers Death of Dom Phillips, the journalist of the Amazon tragedy Three suspects arrested, a fourth wanted Mr. Phillips, 57, longtime contributor to The Guardian newspaper, and Mr. Pereira, 41, recognized expert on indigenous peoples, were in the Amazon as part of the writing of a book on the preservation of the environment. A third suspect in these murders went Saturday morning to the police station of Atalaia do Norte, in the state of Amazonas (west), also announced the PF. The man is known to be “an outlaw”, she added. According to all the evidence and testimonies collected, the latter “was at the scene of the crime and actively participated in the double homicide”, police commissioner Alex Perez Timóteo told the G1 news site. A first suspect was arrested on June 7: a 41-year-old fisherman, who admitted Tuesday having buried the bodies. A second suspect was arrested on Tuesday. According to local media, the police are looking for a fourth suspect, information that has not been officially confirmed. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers In Brazil, the investigation into the disappearance of Bruno Araujo Pereira and Dom Phillips is progressing, “human remains” found This double murder has provoked a wave of indignation in the world, with strong criticism towards far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of promoting deforestation and encouraging the exploitation of resources in the Amazon since he came to power in 2019. Le Monde with AFP