Two teenage girls were among three arrested this morning over the homophobic murder of a civil servant in Trafalgar Square. The three youths attacked him as he walked through Trafalgar Square. CCTV images of the girls were released as reported here.

The suspects, aged 17,17 and 18, were arrested at their homes in south-east London after a tip-off. They were being interviewed at separate police stations.

Ian Baynham, 62, from Beckenham, suffered severe brain damage when he was punched and kicked to the ground after he confronted a girl who was shouting homophobic abuse. He died this week when his family agreed to switch off his life support machine.

Baynham was knocked to the ground by a single punch by a dark-skinned youth after first scuffling with the girl who had shouted abuse at him. The friend managed to grab one of the girls, but she managed to get away when passers-by intervened - thinking that he was assaulting her.

The police have described the arrests as "significant".