Who is Peter Madsen?
The Danish inventor is at the centre of a murder investigation involving Swedish journalist Kim Wall

The Danish aerospace engineer, entrepreneur and inventor Peter Madsen is embroiled in a shocking murder investigation involving Swedish freelance journalist Kim Wall, whose torso was discovered near the water's edge southwest of the island of Amager in Denmark.
Police confirmed today that the torso belonged to the missing 30-year-old, who they believe was killed on a homemade submarine. Officials say a piece of metal attached to her body was placed there, most probably in order to "make it sink", The Guardian reports.
Madsen has denied a charge of negligent manslaughter brought against him.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What do we know about him?
While much media coverage has been devoted to the murder, less is known about 46-year-old Madsen, who was born in eastern Denmark. He's one of four sons who were brought up by their father in a small town on the west coast of Zealand, Denmark's largest island.
The New York Times describes Madsen as "the rare middle-school science whizz to realise his dreams of becoming a celebrated inventor."
The Danish inventor built rockets as a teenager. Admirers in Denmark praised his technology and design, though they wondered at times about his temper, the Times says.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
At the age of 15, Madsen used a fictitious affiliation, the Danish Space Agency, when he sought help building his rockets, according to his biographer, Thomas Djursing, author of Rocket Madsen: Denmark's Do-It-Yourself Astronaut.
The Dane became a local celebrity of sorts, the New York Times says: "Some admirers envisioned his taking on space giants like NASA or even the British billionaire Richard Branson."
Madsen excelled as a self-taught aerospace engineer, submarine builder and co-founder of Copenhagen Suborbitals, a non-profit spaceflight organisation, and founder and CEO of Rocket-Madsens Space Laboratory ApS.
The Dane was also skipper and designer of the UC3 Nautilus, a privately-owned submarine that sank off the Danish coast on Friday.
The inventor initially told police that he boarded the submarine with Wall at about 22:30 on 10 August, close to where they had met earlier.
Following a judicial hearing, Madsen gave police a new account of events and on 21 August police said Madsen told them he threw the journalist's body into the sea after an accident. His lawyer said he wanted the account to be made public.
Today, police say they have identified the torso as that of the missing journalist. She was last seen on board Madsen's DIY submarine. While no cause of death has been announced, police say they believe she was deliberately dismembered, Gizmodo reports.
-
Why are American conservatives clashing with Pope Leo?
Talking Points Comments on immigration and abortion draw backlash
-
9 haunted hotels where things definitely go bump in the night
The Week Recommends Don’t fear these spirited spots. Embrace them.
-
Saudi comedy fest exposes free speech schism in stand-up
IN THE SPOTLIGHT The decision by some of stand-up’s biggest names to attend a festival in a nation infamous for its censorship has the comedy world picking sides and settling old scores
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations