Three held over UK teen's murder

LONDON - Police investigating the "horrendous" abduction and murder of a 16-year-old girl and a sexual attack on her friend say they have made two significant arrests.

Mary-Ann Leneghan was found dead on Saturday in a park in Reading after suffering a single stab wound to the neck.

An unnamed 18-year-old female friend was left with a gunshot wound and is still in hospital.

Police said they arrested an 18-year-old man in London yesterday and another 19-year-old man in Birmingham.

Both are now in custody awaiting questioning by detectives.

"The events of this afternoon mark a significant point in our inquiries and we are pleased with the way things are going," Detective Superintendent Mark Warwick said.

Another 21-year-old man arrested in London on Wednesday is also still being questioned.

Earlier on Wednesday, police said they had identified a third girl who was present on the evening the two girls were attacked.

Officers said the girl had been with Leneghan and her friend before Leneghan was murdered.

She was not attacked and was being interviewed by officers as a witness.

The two teenagers were abducted from a car park in Reading late on Friday evening local time by a group of up to six young men in their late teens or early 20s.

Police said the third girl had left the other two before they were abducted.

The pair were driven to a guest house where they were sexually assaulted and were then taken in a car to a local park where Mary-Ann was killed and her friend badly injured.

Up to 60 police officers have joined the round-the-clock hunt and a reward of 15,000 ($40,000) has been offered to help catch the killers.

"This crime is one of the most horrendous I have seen," said Detective Superintendent Mark Warwick.

"It has shocked and stunned all officers who have been involved."

Police also said they had searched a flat in Reading which could possibly have a link to the murder.

- REUTERS