Teen held in schoolboy's brutal murder

Japanese police arrested a teenager on Friday on suspicion of killing a 13-year-old schoolboy, in a chilling murder some local media suggested was inspired by the executions performed by Islamic State extremists.

The brutalized and naked body of Ryota Uemura was found in underbrush near a river on Feb 20. His neck had been repeatedly hacked, apparently with a knife that was discovered nearby.

Japan, with its low crime rate, has been captivated by the killing, with media reporting every twist and turn in the investigation, including details about how the youngster's mobile phone was used to send a friend request on a messaging app about the time of his death.