The Metropolitan Police is moving closer to solve the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, a 20 year old local girl who disappeared on January 14. According to the sources of the local newspaper Fréttablaðið Police believes she was most likely murdered on the pier, near the location where the Greenlandic trawler Polar Naonq was harboured. Two crew members of the trawler were arrested on Wednesday January 18. One of the men was released last week, as Police now believe only one of the men was responsible for her death.
Police narrows down the location and time of the crime
Police believes Birna was most likely murdered in Hafnarfjörður harbour, sometime between 6:10 and 7:00 in the morning of Saturday January 14.
Birna was last seen in down town Reykjavík early in the morning of Saturday January 18. Police is certain that she entered a red Kia Rio rental car, driven by Thomas Møller Olsen and Nikolaj Olsen at 5:25 AM. Her cell phone was turned off at 5:50 AM in Hafnarfjörður, near Hafnarfjörður harbour where the Polar Nanoq was harboured.
Footage from security cameras shows that the car drives up to the ship at 6:10 AM. Police now believes Birna was still alive at this point.
The two men exit the car after it pulls up by the trawler and are seen conversing for a short while. Nikolaj then boards the ship while Thomas drives off into an area within the closed harbour zone which is hidden from security cameras. He spends 50 minutes there, before exiting the harbour zone at 7:00 AM. Police believes Birna was murdered during this time frame.
Read more: One of two men held in connection to murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir released from custody
On Thursday Police released Nikolaj from custody. Thomas is still being held in solitary confinement, suspected of murder in the first degree. Police has not secured a confession from Thomas.
Suspect gets rid of evidence, body
Security footage from the harbour shows that Thomas returns to the harbour at 11:30. Police has not been able to determine exactly what Thomas did during this time, or where he drove the car, but believes he drove to the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula where he disposed of the body of Birna. Her body was found on January 22 near Selvogsviti lighthouse. Police suspects that her body was dumped at the bridge over the Vogsós estuary, 6 km (3.7 miles) west of Selvogsviti.
Read more: Case of Birna Brjánsdóttir: Hundreds participated in search for clues over the weekend
Police recovered Birna's ID from the Greenlandic trawler. Her shoes had previously been found lying in the harbour area, close to where Polar Nanoq was harboured. A large search for clues, clothing or other possessions of Birna, was mounted over the weekend. Among the items police hopes to find is her cell phone and items of clothing+. The search failed to turn up any new clues.
Police declines to reveal the cause of death
Grímur Grímsson, Police Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, who is in charge of the investigation, told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV that the Police will not reveal the conclusion of investigation into the cause of death, as it might damage the investigation. The suspect who is still in custody will be interrogated in the coming days. Police has gathered statements from a large number of witnesses. Grímur told RÚV that the investigation is going well.
In addition to being the prime suspect in the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, Thomas Møller is being held in connection to the discovery of large quantities of drugs found on board the Polar Nanoq. Police does not believe the cases are connected. Twenty police officers are investigating the two cases.
Previous Iceland Insider coverage of the case:
We at Iceland Insider have been covering this horrible case since it first broke. Here is a rundown of our coverage to date.
Monday Feb 6
Search for clues near the place where Birna's body was found turns up empty
Read more: Case of Birna Brjánsdóttir: Hundreds participated in search for clues over the weekend
Thursday Feb 2
Police now believes only one of the men originally arrested on connection to Birna's disappearance is responsible for her death.
Read more: One of two men held in connection to murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir released from custody
Monday Jan 30:
Thousands participate in a memorial service for Birna
Read more: Video: A large crowd gathered in Reykjavík on Saturday to remember Birna Brjánsdóttir
Wednesday Jan 25:
More details emerge of what happened during the hours leading up to Birna's disappearance
Tuesday Jan 24:
Police found Birna's ID on board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Police found murdered girl’s ID on board Greenlandic trawler: Suspects interrogated today
The identity of the two suspects revealed by local media.
Read more: The identity of the two men suspected of murdering 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir revealed
Monday Jan 23:
Many unanswered questions despite the discovery of Birna's body
Sunday Jan 22:
Birna's body was found eight days after she was discovered missing.
Read more: Body of missing girl found: All evidence points to murder by two Greenlandic fishermen
Friday Jan 20
More details about the drug find on-board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Forensic search of Greenlandic trawler: 20-40 kg (44-88 lbs) of hash blocks found
Police believes the two men held in custody are responsible for the murder of Birna.
Read more: Two sailors from Greenlandic trawler suspected of murder, search for missing girl continues
Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway while the search for Birna continues.
Read more: Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway due to disappearance of local girl
Thursday Jan 19
Police discover large quantities of drugs on-board the trawler, arresting a fourth man.
Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler
Police reveals that evidence from the a red Kia Rio the sailors had rented from Friday to Saturday pointed to a violent crime.
Read more: Missing girl: Evidence from car rented by crew members of Greenlandic trawler points to a crime
More arrests on-board the ship, which arrived in harbour at 23:07 on Wednesday
Read more: Video: Third sailor on Greenlandic trawler arrested and taken for questioning over missing girl
Wednesday Jan 18
Police arrested two men on board the trawler.
Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl
Police officers and members of the Police Special Forces were flown out to the Danish Coast Guard vessel HDMS Triton which was on intercept course with the Polar Nanoq.
Read more: Missing girl: Members of the Police Special Forces on their way to Greenlandic trawler
The case has gripped the Icelandic nation. Police warns people to avoid of hysteria.
Read more: Airing of British TV series The Missing postponed while search continues for missing girl
Security camera footage from Hafnarfjörður harbour shows crew members exiting the red Kia Rio, behaving suspiciously. The trawler was returned to harbour in Reykjavík.
Read more: Missing girl: Disturbing clues, no arrests, but Greenlandic trawler returned to harbour in Iceland
Tuesday Jan 17
The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Saturday. The trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.
Tuesday afternoon Police found what it believes is the red Kia Rio seen in security camera footage just seconds before she was last spotted on CCTV footage in down town Reykjavík. The car was likely driven by foreign nationals. The driver is seen behaving suspiciously shortly after Birna's cell phone is turned off at 5:50 AM.
Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely
Shoes which match those worn by Birna were found early Tuesday morning in Hafnafjörður, south of Reykjavík. Police does not rule out the shoes were planted at the scene. All available Police and Search and Rescue members are searching in and around Hafnafjörður harbour.
Read more: Police does not rule out that pair of shoes believed to belong to missing woman were planted
Police released CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.
Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras
Monday Jan 16
A large scale search had been underway since Saturday for 20 year old local woman. Police feared foul play.
Read more: Young local woman missing since Saturday: Have you seen her?
The Metropolitan Police is moving closer to solve the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, a 20 year old local girl who disappeared on January 14. According to the sources of the local newspaper Fréttablaðið Police believes she was most likely murdered on the pier, near the location where the Greenlandic trawler Polar Naonq was harboured. Two crew members of the trawler were arrested on Wednesday January 18. One of the men was released last week, as Police now believe only one of the men was responsible for her death.
Police narrows down the location and time of the crime
Police believes Birna was most likely murdered in Hafnarfjörður harbour, sometime between 6:10 and 7:00 in the morning of Saturday January 14.
Birna was last seen in down town Reykjavík early in the morning of Saturday January 18. Police is certain that she entered a red Kia Rio rental car, driven by Thomas Møller Olsen and Nikolaj Olsen at 5:25 AM. Her cell phone was turned off at 5:50 AM in Hafnarfjörður, near Hafnarfjörður harbour where the Polar Nanoq was harboured.
Footage from security cameras shows that the car drives up to the ship at 6:10 AM. Police now believes Birna was still alive at this point.
The two men exit the car after it pulls up by the trawler and are seen conversing for a short while. Nikolaj then boards the ship while Thomas drives off into an area within the closed harbour zone which is hidden from security cameras. He spends 50 minutes there, before exiting the harbour zone at 7:00 AM. Police believes Birna was murdered during this time frame.
Read more: One of two men held in connection to murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir released from custody
On Thursday Police released Nikolaj from custody. Thomas is still being held in solitary confinement, suspected of murder in the first degree. Police has not secured a confession from Thomas.
Suspect gets rid of evidence, body
Security footage from the harbour shows that Thomas returns to the harbour at 11:30. Police has not been able to determine exactly what Thomas did during this time, or where he drove the car, but believes he drove to the south coast of Reykjanes peninsula where he disposed of the body of Birna. Her body was found on January 22 near Selvogsviti lighthouse. Police suspects that her body was dumped at the bridge over the Vogsós estuary, 6 km (3.7 miles) west of Selvogsviti.
Read more: Case of Birna Brjánsdóttir: Hundreds participated in search for clues over the weekend
Police recovered Birna's ID from the Greenlandic trawler. Her shoes had previously been found lying in the harbour area, close to where Polar Nanoq was harboured. A large search for clues, clothing or other possessions of Birna, was mounted over the weekend. Among the items police hopes to find is her cell phone and items of clothing+. The search failed to turn up any new clues.
Police declines to reveal the cause of death
Grímur Grímsson, Police Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police, who is in charge of the investigation, told the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV that the Police will not reveal the conclusion of investigation into the cause of death, as it might damage the investigation. The suspect who is still in custody will be interrogated in the coming days. Police has gathered statements from a large number of witnesses. Grímur told RÚV that the investigation is going well.
In addition to being the prime suspect in the murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir, Thomas Møller is being held in connection to the discovery of large quantities of drugs found on board the Polar Nanoq. Police does not believe the cases are connected. Twenty police officers are investigating the two cases.
Previous Iceland Insider coverage of the case:
We at Iceland Insider have been covering this horrible case since it first broke. Here is a rundown of our coverage to date.
Monday Feb 6
Search for clues near the place where Birna's body was found turns up empty
Read more: Case of Birna Brjánsdóttir: Hundreds participated in search for clues over the weekend
Thursday Feb 2
Police now believes only one of the men originally arrested on connection to Birna's disappearance is responsible for her death.
Read more: One of two men held in connection to murder of Birna Brjánsdóttir released from custody
Monday Jan 30:
Thousands participate in a memorial service for Birna
Read more: Video: A large crowd gathered in Reykjavík on Saturday to remember Birna Brjánsdóttir
Wednesday Jan 25:
More details emerge of what happened during the hours leading up to Birna's disappearance
Tuesday Jan 24:
Police found Birna's ID on board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Police found murdered girl’s ID on board Greenlandic trawler: Suspects interrogated today
The identity of the two suspects revealed by local media.
Read more: The identity of the two men suspected of murdering 20 year old Birna Brjánsdóttir revealed
Monday Jan 23:
Many unanswered questions despite the discovery of Birna's body
Sunday Jan 22:
Birna's body was found eight days after she was discovered missing.
Read more: Body of missing girl found: All evidence points to murder by two Greenlandic fishermen
Friday Jan 20
More details about the drug find on-board the Greenlandic trawler.
Read more: Forensic search of Greenlandic trawler: 20-40 kg (44-88 lbs) of hash blocks found
Police believes the two men held in custody are responsible for the murder of Birna.
Read more: Two sailors from Greenlandic trawler suspected of murder, search for missing girl continues
Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway while the search for Birna continues.
Read more: Greenlandic Foreign Minister postpones visit to Norway due to disappearance of local girl
Thursday Jan 19
Police discover large quantities of drugs on-board the trawler, arresting a fourth man.
Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler
Police reveals that evidence from the a red Kia Rio the sailors had rented from Friday to Saturday pointed to a violent crime.
Read more: Missing girl: Evidence from car rented by crew members of Greenlandic trawler points to a crime
More arrests on-board the ship, which arrived in harbour at 23:07 on Wednesday
Read more: Video: Third sailor on Greenlandic trawler arrested and taken for questioning over missing girl
Wednesday Jan 18
Police arrested two men on board the trawler.
Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl
Police officers and members of the Police Special Forces were flown out to the Danish Coast Guard vessel HDMS Triton which was on intercept course with the Polar Nanoq.
Read more: Missing girl: Members of the Police Special Forces on their way to Greenlandic trawler
The case has gripped the Icelandic nation. Police warns people to avoid of hysteria.
Read more: Airing of British TV series The Missing postponed while search continues for missing girl
Security camera footage from Hafnarfjörður harbour shows crew members exiting the red Kia Rio, behaving suspiciously. The trawler was returned to harbour in Reykjavík.
Read more: Missing girl: Disturbing clues, no arrests, but Greenlandic trawler returned to harbour in Iceland
Tuesday Jan 17
The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Saturday. The trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.
Tuesday afternoon Police found what it believes is the red Kia Rio seen in security camera footage just seconds before she was last spotted on CCTV footage in down town Reykjavík. The car was likely driven by foreign nationals. The driver is seen behaving suspiciously shortly after Birna's cell phone is turned off at 5:50 AM.
Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely
Shoes which match those worn by Birna were found early Tuesday morning in Hafnafjörður, south of Reykjavík. Police does not rule out the shoes were planted at the scene. All available Police and Search and Rescue members are searching in and around Hafnafjörður harbour.
Read more: Police does not rule out that pair of shoes believed to belong to missing woman were planted
Police released CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.
Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras
Monday Jan 16
A large scale search had been underway since Saturday for 20 year old local woman. Police feared foul play.
Read more: Young local woman missing since Saturday: Have you seen her?
