Police to investigate string of 'ritual killings'

Detectives investigated the suspected ritual killing of a boy whose torso was found in the Thames are looking at a string of other cases in France, Greece, Italy and the United States.

Commander Andy Baker, speaking at the first Europe-wide police conference on ritualistic murders at Europol in The Hague yesterday, said detectives from other countries had presented details of their own unsolved deaths.

The number of suspected ritual killings uncovered across Europe was now "pushing double figures", including three in Italy, he said.

Those killings have striking similarities to the mutilation and dismemberment involved in the London murder.

Mr Baker said detectives were already aware of several cases, the earliest from 1987. He said ritual killings might have spread from Africa to Europe.

Britain's first suspected case emerged last September when the torso of a still unidentified African boy was found near Tower Bridge. The boy, whom detectives named Adam, was thought to have been five or six years old. His throat was cut and his head and limbs were cut off.

Detectives are now re-examining a 33-year-old murder case in which the headless torso of a baby girl was found hidden in bushes in Epping Forest, Essex. Mr Baker said: "If there is an opportunity to solve that case we will."