A woman has been arrested in connection with the murder of a young boy whose torso was found in the River Thames.

The woman, in her 30s and of West African origin, was arrested at her south Glasgow home and taken to a south London police station for interview.

Her house has been searched and property removed by officers from the Metropolitan and Strathclyde Police.

The body of the boy, dubbed Adam, was found in the Thames

The woman, described as married but living alone at present, had connections with London.

She was arrested after police found an undisclosed item at her home.

It is the first arrest made in connection with the inquiry, and police are treating it as a "significant development".

The youngster's torso was spotted floating in the Thames on 21 September last year.

The boy, dubbed Adam and believed to be from Africa, was thought to have been five or six-years-old when he died.

Voodoo theory

His throat appeared to have been cut before his arms, legs and head were severed. His body, wearing orange shorts, had been in the water for up to 10 days.

Detectives investigating the case initially pursued a theory that the boy was a victim of a South African "muti" killing for traditional medicine.

They later were investigating the possibility it was a West African voodoo killing involving human sacrifice.

Police were earlier this year supported by former South African president Nelson Mandela.

He said the case had left him with "sadness and a deep sense of tragedy", and called on anyone with any information or concerns to contact police.