The serving Metropolitan Police officer detained in connection with the disappearance of Sarah Everard has been arrested on suspicion of murder, Scotland Yard said.
The Metropolitan Police said the officer had initially been arrested on suspicion of kidnap on Tuesday, and was then further arrested on suspicion of murder on Wednesday.
He was also arrested over a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
The force said he is a member of the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command and his primary duty is uniformed patrol of diplomatic premises.
Following the arrest of the police officer, the Metropolitan Police has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
Two sites in Kent were searched today as the hunt for the missing 33-year-old continued.
Police later announced that human remains have been found.
Marketing executive Everard vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on Wednesday March 3.
READ MORE: Police find human remains in search for Sarah Everard
Police outside a house in Freemens Way in Deal, Kent, after detectives hunting for Sarah Everard
Late last night, the Met Police said a serving officer from the force had been arrested as part of the investigation, but in an unusual step would not reveal what he had been detained for.
Today, the force said he had been initially arrested on suspicion of kidnap, and later murder. He is also being questioned about a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
The police searches in Kent saw a tent erected at the front of a house in Freemens Way in Deal, where multiple cars were taken away by investigators. Later, a metal fence was put up surrounding the front garden and driveway.
A neighbour in the road said a police officer lives at the address with his “chatty” wife and two children.
She said: “They just seemed like a normal, regular family, there was nothing strange about them at all.”
She added that police were digging up the garden.
Matt Mullan, 29, who also lives nearby, told the PA news agency: “Last night there were police cars outside all night.
“I thought this is a bit strange, not normal for round here.
“It was about 8-9pm there was heavy traffic out there and there have been police cars outside all morning.
“It’s very surprising, definitely not what you expect to see.”
Another said: “You don’t expect it to be on your doorstep, really.
“You see this sort of thing every day on the TV and the news but you don’t expect it.”
The land near Ashford is a disused outdoor activity and golfing centre near the village of Great Chart.
Police officers close off access to Fridd Lane near Ashford, Kent.
Downing Street said Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s thoughts are with Ms Everard and her friends and family.
His official spokesman told journalists at a Westminster briefing: “As investigations are ongoing on this case I can’t comment.
“But the Prime Minister’s thoughts are with Sarah and her friends and family.”
The arrested officer, who was not on duty at the time of Ms Everard’s disappearance, was responsible for uniformed patrolling of diplomatic premises.
Speaking at Scotland Yard this morning, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: “The fact that the man who has been arrested is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing.”
He told reporters that detectives are working “at all speed” to find out what has happened to Ms Everard, and repeated appeals for members of the public to come forward with information.
Turning to the 33-year-old’s family, who along with her friends have issued desperate appeals for help via social media, he said: “As a father myself, of four young women, I can only imagine the anguish that Sarah’s family are feeling at this very very difficult time.”
Ms Everard is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton – a journey which should have taken around 50 minutes.
She was last captured on a doorbell camera walking along the A205 Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill at around 9.30pm on March 3.
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