Kim Wall: Mother of Swedish journalist who died on homemade Danish submarine pays emotional tribute

‘She gave voice to weak, vulnerable and marginalised people. That voice had been needed for a long, long time, now it has been silenced’

Ms Wall said the 30-year-old had an ‘ability to be a person that makes a difference’ (AP)

The mother of Swedish journalist Kim Wall has told how her daughter “gave voice to the weak, vulnerable and marginalised” in an emotional tribute after police identified her remains.

Ingrid Wall confirmed with “boundless sadness and shock” the headless, limbless female torso discovered on Monday in the Copenhagen waterside belonged to her daughter.

Ms Wall said the 30-year-old had an “ability to be a person that makes a difference” and said her voice that had “been needed for a long, long time” had now been “silenced.”

“It is with boundless sadness and shock that we received news that the remains of our daughter and sister Kim Wall have been found,” Ms Wall, wrote on Facebook on her family’s behalf. “We cannot yet grasp the extent of this catastrophe and there are many questions that must be answered.

“During the horrific days since Kim disappeared, we have had countless evidence of how loved and appreciated she was, as a human and friend as well as a professional journalist.

“From all corners of the world, evidence of Kim’s ability to be a person that makes a difference.”

Ms Wall died after embarking on board a submarine owned by Danish inventor Peter Madsen, 46.

The experienced foreign correspondent was last seen boarding the 18m UC3 Nautilus craft on 10 August with Mr Madsen, who she was interviewing for a feature.

Her mother said: “She has found and told stories from different parts of the globe, stories that must be written. Kim travelled for several months in the South Pacific to let the world know what is happening to the population on the islands that sink. She allowed us to travel to the Haiti earthquake, to the torture chamber of Idi Amin in Uganda and the minefield in Sri Lanka.

“She gave voice to the weak, vulnerable and marginalised people. That voice had been needed for a long, long time, now it has been silenced.”

Danish Police said a piece of metal was attached to her body “likely with the purpose to make it sink”.

Ms Wall, a graduate of the London School of Economics and Columbia University, was reported missing by her boyfriend in the early hours of 11 August. The submarine sank hours later and Mr Madsen was rescued.

The home-made submarine ‘UC3 Nautilus’, built by Danish inventor Peter Madsen, who is charged with killing Swedish journalist Kim Wall (Reuters)

Danish and Swedish maritime authorities had used divers, sonar and helicopters in the search for Ms Wall’s body in Koge Bay, south of Copenhagen, and in the Oresund Strait between the two countries, before it was spotted by a passing cyclist.

Mr Madsen, charged with manslaughter, told a court Ms Wall died in an accident and that he “buried” her at sea, changing his previous statement that he dropped her off alive in Copenhagen. He denies any wrongdoing.