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Suspects held over Palestinian Mohammad Abu Khdair murder Suspects held over Palestinian Mohammad Abu Khdair murder
(35 minutes later)
A number of Jewish suspects have been arrested over the murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammad Abu Khdair, whose death sparked days of violent protests. A number of Jewish suspects have been arrested over the murder of Palestinian 16-year-old Mohammad Abu Khdair, whose death sparked days of violent protests.
Israeli police told the BBC Khdair was murdered "because of his nationality". Israeli police told the BBC that the teenager, abducted on Wednesday morning and found dead hours later, was killed "because of his nationality".
Khdair was abducted in East Jerusalem. His body was found on Wednesday with first post-mortem examination findings suggesting he was burnt alive. He had reportedly been burnt to death.
His death followed the abduction and murder of three Israeli students, who had been hitchhiking near Hebron. 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 their facilities.
The agency did not comment on any possible motive for the killing, saying details of the case were subject to a judicial gag order.
Analysis: James Reynolds, BBC News, Jerusalem
Israel has found itself carrying out two high-profile manhunts: first for the killers of the three Israeli teenagers found dead on Monday; second for the killers of the Palestinian teenager whose body was found two days later.
It may be that this second manhunt has achieved more results than the first. The arrest of a number of suspects, described as Jewish, suggests that Mohammed Abu Khdair's murder may have been politically motivated. But we can't yet know for sure. Israel's authorities have banned the reporting of any more details of the suspects' identities.
Palestinians have not immediately celebrated news of the arrests. The Palestinian people largely mistrust Israel's judicial system and its police force. They see Israel's institutions as instruments of occupation - not justice. "The arrests don't make me happy," said Hussein Abu Khdair, Mohammed's father, "Nothing will bring him back."
The parents of the three Israeli teenagers continue to await further word from the hunt for their sons' killers.
Thousands attended Mohammad Abu Khdair's funeral on Friday near the family's home in the Shufat district of East Jerusalem.Thousands attended Mohammad Abu Khdair's funeral on Friday near the family's home in the Shufat district of East Jerusalem.
Hundreds of Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli police in East Jerusalem before and after the funeral.Hundreds of Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli police in East Jerusalem before and after the funeral.
A Palestinian-American teenager, a cousin of Mohammad Abu Khdair, was one of those held after the clashes. Huge controversy was sparked when mobile-phone footage emerged showing two officers repeatedly beating a teenager suspected of taking part in the violence.
Mobile phone footage appears to show two Israeli policemen repeatedly punching Tariq Khdair, 15, from Florida, in the head. The teenager was Tariq Khdair, a 15-year-old Palestinian-American who is also a cousin of Mohammad Abu Khdair.
On Sunday, a judge said he had to be held under house arrest for nine days during the investigation. He was bailed after appearing in court on Sunday, accused of attacking police officers during the unrest.
Police say that he was among a group of youths attacking police officers during the unrest. Mohammad Abu Khdair was seen being forced into a car in Shufat early on Wednesday and his body was found later in a forest in West Jerusalem.
Anger mounts A post-mortem examination was carried out by Israeli doctors, with a senior Palestinian medical official in attendance.
Mohammad Abu Khdair was seen being forced into a car in Shufat early on Wednesday and his body was later found in a forest in West Jerusalem. The examination results have not yet been released.
The post-mortem examination was carried out by Israeli doctors, with Saber al-Aloul, the director of the Palestinian forensic institute, in attendance. But Palestinian attorney-general Mohammed al-A'wewy was quoted as saying fire dust had been found in his respiratory canal, meaning the victim had "inhaled this material while he was burnt alive".
The Palestinian official news agency Wafa quoted the attorney-general as saying that Mr Aloul had reported fire dust in the respiratory canal, meaning the victim had "inhaled this material while he was burnt alive".
Mohammad Abu Khdair, who had also suffered a head injury, had burns to 90% of the body, it was reported.Mohammad Abu Khdair, who had also suffered a head injury, had burns to 90% of the body, it was reported.
The findings have not been officially released.
Khdair's mother told the Associated Press news agency she had no faith in the Israeli justice.
"I don't have any peace in my heart," Suha Khdair said.
"Even if they captured who they say killed my son... they're only going to ask them questions and then release them. What's the point?
"They need to treat them the way they treat us. They need to demolish their homes and round them up, the way they do it to our children"
Mohammad Abu Khdair's family have insisted he was killed in revenge for the murders of the three Israeli teenagers.
The bodies of Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Shaar, both aged 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach were found on 30 June. Their funerals were held on Wednesday.
The killing came after the bodies of the three Israeli seminary students were found near the city of Hebron on Monday, two-and-a-half weeks after they were abducted.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed their deaths on Hamas. It has denied any involvement.
Mr Netanyahu also condemned the killers of the Palestinian teenager and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.