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Child abuse inquiry: Met Police investigate alleged murders of three young boys Child abuse inquiry: Met Police investigate alleged murders of three young boys
(35 minutes later)
Detectives probing an alleged historic Westminster paedophile ring are also investigating the murders of three young boys and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Scotland Yard is investigating the alleged murders of three young boys by a VIP paedophile ring after a “credible” witness came forward to detail his abuse at the hands of Conservative politician, police said today.
Detectives from Scotland Yard have appealed for abuse victims and potential witnesses to come forward to assist them in their probe into the historic sex gang, which is codenamed Operation Midland. The man – known only as Nick –has claimed that a Conservative MP murdered a boy during a sex attack, and a second boy was killed by a ring of ring of abusers active in the late 1970s and 80s.
Officers made a public appeal for information that related to Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, London. He claims that a third boy was deliberately run down in a car, which he said was a direct warning to him to keep quiet, according to an account given to investigative journalism website Exaro.
The residential development near Parliament has long been popular with MPs. Police yesterday appealed for more witnesses to come forward. Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald, the lead officer for the operation, said that Nick had been spoken to by murder detectives and specialist child abuse investigators. “They and I believe what Nick is saying to be credible and true hence why we are investigating the allegations he has made to us.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Rodhouse said no identities had been confirmed or bodies found, the BBC reports. "I appeal to men who were subjected to abuse 30 years ago to come forward. We are also investigating the murder of three young boys - we are determined to find answers."
Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald, who is leading the investigation, said serious allegations were also being investigated. Nick – whose real name has not been disclosed – has claimed that he was abused from the age of seven to 16 by groups of men, including at parties and at places across London and the Home Counties including military bases.
“I appeal to men who were subjected to abuse 30 years ago to come forward," he said. One claimed venue was at least one flat at Dolphin Square in Pimlico, central London, a residential development near Parliament that has long been popular with MPs. Police yesterday said that Nick described how a car came to collect him and he would be driven to Dolphin Square and was subjected to abuse by individuals and groups.
“We are also investigating the murder of three young boys - we are determined to find answers.” Dolphin Square estate in Pimlico, London The detective urged people living there in the 1970s to come forward as they "will have seen or heard something that they only understand the significance of now".
He said people who lived or visited Dolphin Square in Pimlico, central London, in the 1970s "will have seen or heard something that they only understand the significance of now". No bodies have been discovered and officers are trawling files of missing children from the period to try to establish if any of them had been murdered by a gang.
Officers believe the alleged abuse took place at locations in London and the Home Counties including military bases between the mid-1970s and mid-1980s. Officers confirmed that they had spoken to the family of Martin Allen, a boy who disappeared in 1979, but they said it was too early to say if his case was linked to Nick’s allegations. The force also said it was in contact with Sussex police which is carrying out a review of the case of an eight-year-old boy murdered 33 years ago.
An alleged victim - known as Nick - has come forward, claiming he was abused from the age of seven to 16 at a number of locations including a flat in Dolphin Square on the River Thames. Vishambar Mehrotra, a 69-year-old retired magistrate, recorded a male prostitute saying in a telephone call that his son Vishal may have been abducted and taken to the Elm Guest House in Barnes, south-west London, in 1981, the Daily Telegraph reported.
Nick has alleged he was abused by single men, groups of men and at "parties", and that other young boys were present who were also abused, Mr McDonald said. Mr Mehrotra took the recording to the Metropolitan Police at the time but told the newspaper that they refused to investigate an allegation implicating "judges and politicians".
No further details of the alleged murders were given by detectives. Mr Mehrotra told the newspaper: "I was contacted by a young man who seemed to be in his 20s. He told me he believed Vishal may have been taken by paedophiles in the Elm Guest House near Barnes Common.
Additional reporting by PA "He said there were very highly placed people there. He talked about judges and politicians who were abusing little boys."
Scotland Yard said that it was not clear whether the murder was linked to its current inquiries.