Boy arrested over canal rape

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the gang rape of a woman who was stripped naked and thrown into a London canal.

It follows the arrest on Monday of three teenagers, who were questioned by police about the assault on a 37-year-old woman on the towpath of the Grand Union canal earlier this month.

A 15-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl were arrested at their homes at 0800 BST on Monday, while a 16-year-old boy was arrested at another address at 1200 BST.

The victim was attacked and thrown into the canal after she began talking to a group of young men and women while walking home in the early hours of 22 July.

She struggled out of the water but was then raped and assaulted by four men - believed to be aged between 16 and 22 - who were egged on by female members of the group.

Similar attack

That incident came almost four years after the gang rape of an Austrian tourist who was also thrown into a London canal.

The 33-year-old victim was repeatedly raped by a number of youths near to the Regent's Canal in King's Cross. The youths were sentenced to lengthy custodial sentences.

The three teenagers arrested in connection with the 22 July attack were later released on police bail.

Anyone with information on the attack should call Notting Hill CID on 020 8246 0124 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.