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Police in London have made three fresh arrests in connection with the murder of a Nigerian schoolboy, Damilola Taylor.
Police in London have made three fresh arrests in connection with the murder of a Nigerian schoolboy, Damilola Taylor.
Damilola, 10, was stabbed to death while on his way home from school in Peckham, south-east London, in November 2000.
The three men were arrested in south London on Wednesday morning in what police have described as "significant developments" in the case.
In 2002, four youths stood trial for the killing but were cleared.
But the case was kept open and an Inspector, Mr. Nick Ephgrave, was appointed to lead the investigation. He said Damilola's parents, Richard and Gloria, had been told of the arrests.
According to the BBC, those being questioned were not the same people who were acquitted after the trial at the Old Bailey.
However, the police confirmed that they were arrested as part of the original inquiry but were released without charge.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Bill Griffiths, said of the arrests, "These significant developments today are the result of a determined effort to establish the truth of what happened on that day.
"I pay tribute to Mr and Mrs Taylor for their patience, understanding and support throughout the course of this investigation."
Detectives are understood to be concentrating on using new DNA techniques on forensic evidence gathered at the time.
In September, police also searched several addresses in Peckham after which a police spokesman said, "We are very confident this is a case that will be solved."
Damilola bled to death in the stairwell of the North Peckham Estate after being stabbed in the thigh on his way home from school.
At the Old Bailey trial, evidence from the prosecution's key witness, a 12-year-old girl, was thrown out by the judge who ruled it was unreliable.
Two youths were then acquitted and another two were found not guilty.