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Murder hunt police renew appeal Five arrested over Rhys's death
(about 1 hour later)
Detectives investigating the fatal shooting of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in Liverpool have said witnesses "should stand up and be counted". Police hunting the killer of 11-year-old Rhys Jones have arrested five more people, including two girls.
Chief Superintendant Chris Armitt said he wanted to reassure witnesses that special measures would be put in place to protect them. The five, three males aged 15, 16 and 19, and two females aged 15 and 18, were arrested in the Croxteth and Norris Green areas, said police.
Another boy, aged 15, is already in custody. He was arrested in the Norris Green area of Liverpool on Friday.
At a press conference detectives investigating the shooting appealed for witnesses to "stand up and be counted".
Two boys aged 14 and 18, earlier arrested on suspicion of murder, were released on Thursday night.
Chief Superintendent Chris Armitt said residents must "examine their consciences" and take a stand against gang culture.
We have ways of protecting members of the public who come forward with information Ch Supt Chris Armitt, Merseyside Police
He said he wanted to reassure witnesses that special measures would be put in place to protect them.
He added that CCTV footage from the area was also being examined.He added that CCTV footage from the area was also being examined.
A 16-year-old boy, the third to be arrested, is currently being held in custody and will be questioned later.
He was detained on Broadway in nearby Norris Green. Two local boys aged 14 and 18, earlier arrested on suspicion of murder, were released on Thursday night.
Rhys was shot by a youth on a black BMX bike at a pub car park in Croxteth on Wednesday night.Rhys was shot by a youth on a black BMX bike at a pub car park in Croxteth on Wednesday night.
Up to 40,000 spectators at Everton's home game will also watch a witness plea on the big screen at Goodison Park where Rhys's favourite team will be playing Blackburn Rovers. Speaking at a press conference near the spot where Rhys was shot, Ch Supt Chris Armitt said: "We understand that people are concerned about giving information to the police, we understand that people are frightened, that's natural.
Speaking at a press conference near the spot where Rhys was shot, Ch Supt Chris Armitt said: "We undertsand that people may be frightened but people have got to stand up and be counted." "What I want to say to people is, listen, they've got to stand up and they've got be counted.
Merseyside Police have said they hope the appeal will improve on the disappointing response so far from the public following Rhys's killing, outside the Fir Tree pub, where he had been playing football with friends. Text information
"We have ways of protecting members of the public who come forward with information, we can protect their identity. If they have evidence that needs to go before court that can be done using something called special protective measures."
He added that Merseyside Police had had help from the local community and that Rhys's killer would be found but that officers want to solve the crime quickly.
We have lost our world, the world has lost a good guy Stephen Jones, father Parents speak of loss
Up to 40,000 spectators at Everton's home game will watch a witness plea on the big screen at Goodison Park where Rhys's favourite team will be playing Blackburn Rovers.
Officers have been handing out leaflets in the area with a special number for young people to text information anonymously.
Police have said that they are examining an abandoned bicycle, found in an area with a different postcode to the shooting.
Officers also confirmed descriptions of the killer's firearm, describing it as a black handgun with a long barrel.
Some 100 officers are working on the investigation, supported by 200 staff from the Merseyside Police gun crime unit, Matrix, which was set up two years ago to tackle the problem.
Detectives are treating the inquiry as Category A Plus - the "most serious" of crimes.