British journalist missing in Brazil after asking to stay with friend

A British journalist working in Brazil has gone missing as a group of foreign correspondents have warned they are "concerned" about her disappearance. Charlotte Alice Peet, 32, was in Sao Paulo on February 8 when she asked a friend could she stay at her home in Rio de Janeiro.

The female friend responded that she was unfortunately not in a position to accommodate the Brazil-based freelance foreign correspondent. Days later, Charlotte's family contacted one of her friends, saying they had lost contact with their daughter.

The Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in Brazil (ACIE) issued a statement asking the authorities to scale up their investigations into Charlotte's whereabouts. The missing journalist has worked with Al Jazera, the Times and the Evening Standard among others as well as appearing in the BBC World Service.

Charlotte is understood to have moved to work and live in Brazil two years ago. She returned to London briefly before returning to the South American country last November.

ACIE president Edmar Figueiredo, an experienced Brazilian TV journalist, wrote in the statement: "The Brazilian Foreign Press Association (ACIE) would like to publicly express its concern about the disappearance of 32-year-old British journalist Charlotte Alice Peet and show solidarity with her family and friends.

"She disappeared in Brazil 10 days ago. The case was initially registered at Rio de Janeiro’s Tourist Attention Centre on February 17 before being passed on to Sao Paulo which is the last place Charlotte was supposed to have been before she disappeared."

He added: "Charlotte spent more than two years in Rio de Janeiro where she worked as a freelance correspondent. After heading back to London, she returned to Brazil last November. On February 8, she contacted a female friend in Rio via WhatsApp.

"She said she was in Sao Paulo and was planning to head to Rio and needed a place to stay. The friend replied saying that unfortunately she couldn’t put her up. Several days later Charlotte’s family in the UK contacted this friend saying they had lost contact with her.

"To help in the ongoing search for Charlotte, they have provided information about her flight to Brazil as well as a passport photo. As a freelance journalist Charlotte knew some of the foreign correspondents who are members of the Brazilian Foreign Press Association.

"She reported from Brazil for foreign media, including Al Jazeera and British and even Portuguese media outlets. The ACIE and its leadership calls on the relevant authorities to intensify their work to try to find the missing British journalist as soon as possible."