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| Rhys murder police seal off wood | Rhys murder police seal off wood |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Police hunting the killer of 11-year-old Rhys Jones have sealed off a section of woodland in Liverpool close to the scene where he was shot. | Police hunting the killer of 11-year-old Rhys Jones have sealed off a section of woodland in Liverpool close to the scene where he was shot. |
| Dam Wood, between the Croxteth Park Estate and Croxteth, is being searched with dogs after a public tip-off. | Dam Wood, between the Croxteth Park Estate and Croxteth, is being searched with dogs after a public tip-off. |
| Rhys was killed outside the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, on Wednesday as he walked home after playing football. | Rhys was killed outside the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, on Wednesday as he walked home after playing football. |
| Police are assuring potential witnesses their identities will be protected if they come forward with information. | Police are assuring potential witnesses their identities will be protected if they come forward with information. |
| Detectives have so far released 10 suspects, four without charge and six on police bail. | Detectives have so far released 10 suspects, four without charge and six on police bail. |
| There is a wall of silence because there is a genuine fear within the area about safety and fear of reprisals Richard Whitehead, lawyer | There is a wall of silence because there is a genuine fear within the area about safety and fear of reprisals Richard Whitehead, lawyer |
| On Tuesday night the Everton theme of Z Cars was played at Anfield ahead of Liverpool's Champions League qualifier with Toulouse. | |
| Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez walked along the touchline to hug Rhys's mother Melanie, and shake the hand of father Steve and their eldest son Owen. | |
| Messages were broadcast over the tannoy several times ahead of the match appealing for witnesses to the shooting. | |
| Officers said they had received a steady stream of calls from the public following Rhys's murder and are appealing for more witnesses to come forward. | |
| Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan, of Merseyside Police, said: "The important thing that we've always said is that we can put special measures in if you're frightened about your identity becoming revealed, there are things that we can do that will assist and protect your identity." | |
| Rival gangs | |
| Richard Whitehead, a criminal lawyer based in Liverpool, said many people in the area would still be too scared to come forward. | Richard Whitehead, a criminal lawyer based in Liverpool, said many people in the area would still be too scared to come forward. |
| Rhys's brother visits shrine Police reveal gang crackdown | Rhys's brother visits shrine Police reveal gang crackdown |
| "There is a wall of silence because there is a genuine fear within the area about safety and fear of reprisals," he told BBC News 24. | |
| About 46 officers and eight dogs began searching the woodland on Tuesday although Ch Insp Ray Beirne, who is leading the teams, refused to say what the officers were looking for. | About 46 officers and eight dogs began searching the woodland on Tuesday although Ch Insp Ray Beirne, who is leading the teams, refused to say what the officers were looking for. |
| He said: "It is a very large area of wood and we are having to look through every bit of it. | He said: "It is a very large area of wood and we are having to look through every bit of it. |
| "It will take as long as it takes." | "It will take as long as it takes." |
| Officers are investigating the possibility that Rhys may have been caught up in a feud between the Croxteth Crew and the Strand Gang. | Officers are investigating the possibility that Rhys may have been caught up in a feud between the Croxteth Crew and the Strand Gang. |
| It has not been revealed whether any of the calls from the public shed light on the activities of the two rival gangs. | It has not been revealed whether any of the calls from the public shed light on the activities of the two rival gangs. |
| Floral tributes | Floral tributes |
| Masses of floral tributes have been laid at the spot where Rhys fell. | Masses of floral tributes have been laid at the spot where Rhys fell. |
| Wreaths from Everton and Blackburn Rovers football clubs and from England striker Wayne Rooney, who was brought up in Croxteth, have also been laid at the spot. | Wreaths from Everton and Blackburn Rovers football clubs and from England striker Wayne Rooney, who was brought up in Croxteth, have also been laid at the spot. |
| Mr and Mrs Jones have urged their son's killer to surrender to police, and have said they now want to move from the area. | |
| Rhys's parents said they could no longer live in the area | Rhys's parents said they could no longer live in the area |
| Mrs Jones said: "I don't feel safe now up there. I am going to leave. I can't live on there any more. I can't go up to those shops any more. | Mrs Jones said: "I don't feel safe now up there. I am going to leave. I can't live on there any more. I can't go up to those shops any more. |
| "I've got to move somewhere else." | "I've got to move somewhere else." |
| Rhys and his family will be remembered in prayers at a church service to mark the 800th anniversary of the city gaining its charter from King John. | Rhys and his family will be remembered in prayers at a church service to mark the 800th anniversary of the city gaining its charter from King John. |
| The Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, is expected to mention Rhys during the service at Liverpool Parish Church. | The Bishop of Liverpool, the Right Reverend James Jones, is expected to mention Rhys during the service at Liverpool Parish Church. |