Three men arrested after girl, 16, murdered and another attacked

Three men were held by police after the "rare and terrible" murder of a 16-year-old girl whose body was found in a park in Reading yesterday morning.

Three men were held by police after the "rare and terrible" murder of a 16-year-old girl whose body was found in a park in Reading yesterday morning.

Police were yet to confirm the cause of death, but said knives and firearms were used in the attack. The body was discovered after an 18-year-old girl - believed to be a friend of the victim who was also involved in the attack - asked for help from a passerby.

Her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening and she is helping police from her hospital bedside where she in a serious but stable condition.

Detective Superintendent Mark Warwick, the senior investigating officer for Thames Valley Police, said: "I must express my deepest sympathy to the family of the young girl who tragically died this morning. "We are trying to piece together exactly what happened. This is a rare and terrible crime and we need your help to find out who is responsible.

"All we know is that the 18-year-old made contact with a member of the public to assist her. From that, a sequence of events occurred involving the police... searching the park and finding the 16-year-old victim."

Asked whether the attack was sexually motivated, Mr Warwick said officers were keeping an open mind.

Three men, believed to be from London and in their 20s, were later arrested in Reading.

Mr Warwick also told reporters that both victims suffered a "knife and firearm attack".

A post-mortem examination on the dead girl has yet to be carried out.