Two men arrested over cold case PC murder

02/06/2010

 

 

Two men have been questioned by police over the murder of Pc Keith Blakelock, the police constable killed during the 1985 Broadwater Farm riots.

The two suspects, aged 52 and 46, were arrested at separate North London addresses on suspicion of murder last Friday.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the men – who would have been 27 and 21 years old at the time of the killing - had been interviewed and released on bail until September.

The suspects are both from the Tottenham area of London. A third suspect, aged 40, who was arrested in Suffolk in February, also remains on police bail.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Pc Blakelock’s death, a father of three who was murdered by a machete-wielding gang during riots in Tottenham.

Pc Blakelock and his colleague Pc Richard Coombes were attacked as they tried to protect firefighters after violence erupted on the estate. The unrest was sparked by the death of Cynthia Jarrett, 49, who collapsed during a police raid on her home.

Three men, Winston Silcott, Mark Braithwaite and Engin Raghip, were convicted of his murder in 1987 and jailed, but their convictions were quashed on appeal in 1991.

Three teenagers, two aged 15 and another aged 16, were also charged with the murder in 1987, but their cases were dismissed after the judge ruled that confessions they had given to police were inadmissible.

The latest arrests are believed to have been the result of new evidence which has linked the three new suspects to the murder. 

In 2005, police released images of Mr Blakelock's blood-stained overalls in a bid to encourage witnesses to come forward.

Investigators have repeatedly said people in the area have information about the identity of the killers they have not shared with police.

The 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 and injured during the riots - that they can contact the incident room in confidence on 020 8733 4613.”

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