The Wireless

Arrests over killing of Palestinian boy

09:16 am on 7 July 2014

A number of Jewish suspects have been arrested over the murder of Palestinian Mohammad Abu Khdair, 16, whose death sparked days of violent protests, Radio New Zealand reports.

Israeli police said that the teenager, abducted on Wednesday morning and found dead hours later, was killed "because of his nationality", according to the BBC. He had reportedly been burnt to death.

Earlier, the bodies of three murdered Israeli students were found. Mohammad Abu Khdair's family believe he was murdered in revenge.

Israel's Shin Bet security agency issued a brief statement confirming the arrests, and said the suspects were being questioned at one of its facilities.

The agency did not comment on any possible motive for the killing, and said details of the case were subject to a judicial gagging order.

Thousands attended Mohammad Abu Khdair's funeral on Friday near the family's home in the Shufat district of East Jerusalem, and hundreds of Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli police in East Jerusalem before and after the funeral.