The two sailors from the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq who were arrested by Icelandic Police on Wednesday are suspected of murder, the local newspaper Fréttablaðið reports. The two men were arrested when Icelandic Police and Police Special Forces boarded the trawler while still at sea at noon Wednesday. A third man who was arrested at 9 PM the same day has been released after questioning. A fourth man is still in custody after Police discovered large quantities of drugs on-board the ship.
Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler
Missing person case, held on suspicion of murder
The men are being held in connection to the disappearance of 20 year old Icelandic girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir, who went missing on Saturday morning. The search for Birna continues, with ICE-SAR units searching along roads in the lava fields of Reykjanes peninsula.
Fréttablaðið reports that when the Police requested that Police bases its detention of the two men on the 211 clause of the criminal code, which covers murder in the first degree. Police has previously confirmed that evidence gathered from a rental car which had been rented by crew members of the trawler pointed to a violent crime.
The men's cell phones being investigated
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police who spoke with the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV said that Police is currently comparing data from the cell phones of the two men, comparing them with information gathered from telecommunication antennas about the locations of Birna's phone. Her phone last sent a signal to a telecommunication antenna at 5:50 AM Saturday morning, near the place where the Greenlandic trawler was docked. The phone was switched off manually shortly thereafter. Birna's phone has not been found.
Grímur Grímsson, Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police who is in charge of the investigation told local news site Vísir that there is overwhelming evidence pointing to Birna having entered the car on Laugavegur seconds after she was last spotted 5:25AM on security camera footage.
Previous Iceland Insider coverage of the case:
Monday:
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?
Tuesday
Police relased CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.
Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras
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
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 cellphone is turned off at 5:50 AM.
Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely
The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Satuday. the trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.
Wednesday:
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
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
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
Police arrested two men on board the trawler.
Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl
Thursday
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
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
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
The two sailors from the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq who were arrested by Icelandic Police on Wednesday are suspected of murder, the local newspaper Fréttablaðið reports. The two men were arrested when Icelandic Police and Police Special Forces boarded the trawler while still at sea at noon Wednesday. A third man who was arrested at 9 PM the same day has been released after questioning. A fourth man is still in custody after Police discovered large quantities of drugs on-board the ship.
Read more: Fourth man arrested after large quantities of drugs discovered on board Greenlandic trawler
Missing person case, held on suspicion of murder
The men are being held in connection to the disappearance of 20 year old Icelandic girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir, who went missing on Saturday morning. The search for Birna continues, with ICE-SAR units searching along roads in the lava fields of Reykjanes peninsula.
Fréttablaðið reports that when the Police requested that Police bases its detention of the two men on the 211 clause of the criminal code, which covers murder in the first degree. Police has previously confirmed that evidence gathered from a rental car which had been rented by crew members of the trawler pointed to a violent crime.
The men's cell phones being investigated
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police who spoke with the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV said that Police is currently comparing data from the cell phones of the two men, comparing them with information gathered from telecommunication antennas about the locations of Birna's phone. Her phone last sent a signal to a telecommunication antenna at 5:50 AM Saturday morning, near the place where the Greenlandic trawler was docked. The phone was switched off manually shortly thereafter. Birna's phone has not been found.
Grímur Grímsson, Chief Superintendent with the Metropolitan Police who is in charge of the investigation told local news site Vísir that there is overwhelming evidence pointing to Birna having entered the car on Laugavegur seconds after she was last spotted 5:25AM on security camera footage.
Previous Iceland Insider coverage of the case:
Monday:
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?
Tuesday
Police relased CCTV footage of Birna walking in downtown Reykjavík on Monday.
Read more: Search for missing young woman: Police releases footage from surveillance cameras
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
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 cellphone is turned off at 5:50 AM.
Read more: Missing woman: Car seen in surveillance tapes likely found, driver seen behaving strangely
The car was linked to crew members of Greenlandic trawler which had been docked in Hafnarfjörður from Wednesday to Satuday. the trawler had sailed out and was fishing off the east coast of Greenland.
Wednesday:
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
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
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
Police arrested two men on board the trawler.
Read more: Two arrested on-board Greenlandic trawler in connection to missing girl
Thursday
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
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
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
