Blakelock case breakthrough

Scotland Yard has made a breakthrough in the investigation into the murder of Pc Keith Blakelock.

The dramatic development follows the identification of six new suspects and raises hopes of a possible conviction.

It comes after an extraordinary effort to reassess forensic evidence and re-create the scene during the Broadwater Farm riots in Tottenham in 1985.

A new investigation was launched after the last of three men convicted then cleared over the murder, Winston Silcott, was released from prison.

The six suspects are described as being among the "stabbers and kickers" involved in the horrific attack in which the officer, a father-ofthree, was hacked to death as he tried to protect firefighters from a mob.

Most of these men now lead respectable lives, according to senior police sources.

One detective in the case said: "This is potentially very exciting, it is real progress at last.

"The officers who have been working on this have been absolutely tireless in their efforts." A key tool was the piecing together of a "virtual video" of the attack using police and press photographs taken at the time. More than 6,000 statements have been examined by at least 40 officers. The team have also been working with scientists re-examining Pc Blakelock's bloodstained uniform and weapons seized by police in the hope of uncovering DNA profiles.

After analysing thousands of images, police now believe that two "distinct" groups of attackers converged on Pc Blakelock. At least six figures in the scrum around the fallen policeman have been identified. Silcott was convicted and later cleared on appeal of murdering Pc Blakelock. Silcott, 44, was released from prison a year ago on licence after serving 17 years for the murder of amateur boxer Anthony Smith, 24. Two other men, Engin Raghip and Mark Braithwaite, were also cleared by the Appeal Court. Silcott maintained during a recent BBC documentary that he was asleep at a friend's flat during the riots.

In a press conference today, Commander Andy Baker, the Metropolitan Police's head of homicide, said "first rate intelligence" had led police to begin searching 16 Willan Road in Tottenham, north London, at 7am this morning.

He said: "We are very confident - that's why we are doing it.

"It is not an issue about expense.

"This is about our ethos of relentless pursuit in any murder case."