Pilgrims warned after woman goes missing

Pilgrims en route to Santiago de Compostela have been warned not to venture alone on a section of the path where an American woman has disappeared, and other walkers have reported assaults, writes Joanna Moorhead.

Ivar Rekve, the administrator of one of the pilgrimage’s largest English-speaking online forums, said incidents of “improper behaviour” had been reported on the 15-mile stretch between the Spanish towns of Astorga and Rabanal. He said pilgrims should walk in pairs or groups.

Denise Thiem, a 41-year-old pilgrim from Arizona, went missing from the path in April. Two months after her disappearance Spanish police say the investigation remains open.