10/02/2010

Arrest 25 Years After PC's Death

A man has been arrested over the brutal and fatal stabbing of an on-duty police officer in 1985.

The 40-year-old suspect is being held by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Services Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

He has been questioned over the murder of PC Keith Blakelock, who died after sustaining multiple injuries during the Broadwater Farm riots on 6 October 1985.

The suspected, originally from Tottenham was taken to Bury St Edmunds police station where he was quizzed further. He would have been 15 at the time of the riots.

This year marks the 25th anniversary since PC Blakelock was murdered. His death happened just one month after the Brixton riots, during a period of heightened racial tension.

Three juveniles, two aged 15 and another aged 16, were charged with the PC's murder in 1987, but their cases were dismissed when a judge ruled that confessions they gave to the police during interview were inadmissible.

Neither of those individuals are involved in the current investigation.

A Met spokesman said: "Police would like to reassure anyone who has information regarding those involved in the murder of PC Keith Blakelock or the attempted murder of PC Richard Coombes, who was also attacked that night, that they can contact the incident room in confidence on 0208 733 4613."

(PR/GK)

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