A British journalist has been missing in Brazil for 11 days, a foreign correspondents’ association in the country said on Tuesday, urging authorities to step up their search efforts.
Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, last communicated with a friend on 8 February, according to a statement from the Rio de Janeiro-based Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (ACIE).
The journalist reportedly said she was in São Paulo, planning a trip to Rio de Janeiro and looking for a place to stay in the coastal city, but her friend replied that “unfortunately, she could not host her”, wrote ACIE. Days later, Charlotte’s family in the UK contacted the friend, saying they had lost contact with her.
Last Monday, the friend, who had also not heard from Peet, reported her disappearance at a police station in Rio. However, as her last known contact was reportedly in São Paulo, the case was transferred to authorities there.
São Paulo’s public security department said the case was being examined by missing person investigators and that the Department of Homicide and Protection of the Person would be assisting.
In an interview with Sky News Charlotte’s father, Derek Peet, said his daughter flew from Gatwick in London to São Paulo without informing her family, although it is unclear when exactly she travelled.
“It’s very worrying, but I don’t have any more to say. I’m very concerned, but I just don’t know what’s going on. We’re just trying to pick up the pieces, really,” he said.
Peet is fluent in Portuguese and had lived in Brazil recently, working as a freelance journalist for outlets such as the Independent, Times, Telegraph and Al Jazeera.
In its statement, ACIE made “an appeal to the relevant authorities to intensify efforts to find the British journalist as soon as possible”.
The British embassy in Brazil said it was supporting the family of the British citizen and was in contact with local authorities.
