6 held over Palestinian killing

People carry the body of Muhammad Abu Kdear during his funeral ceremony in Jerusalem on July 3. Photo: Getty Images

Israeli police have arrested six suspects over the murder of Palestinian teenager Mohammad Abu Khdair, Israeli media report.

No details are available, but Israeli police told the BBC he was murdered "because of his nationality".

Khdair was abducted in East Jerusalem. His body was found on Wednesday with first post-mortem examination findings suggesting he was burnt alive.

His death followed the abduction and murder of three young Israelis.

The post mortem examination on Mohammad Abu Khdair was carried out by Israeli doctors, with Saber al-Aloul, the director of the Palestinian forensic institute, in attendance.

The Palestinian official news agency Wafa quoted the attorney-general as saying that Aloul had reported fire dust in the respiratory canal, meaning the victim had "inhaled this material while he was burnt alive".

Mohammad Abu Khdair, who had also suffered a head injury, had burns to 90% of the body, it was reported.

The findings have not been officially released.

Mohammad Abu Khdair's family believes he was killed in revenge for the murders of the three Israeli teenagers.

The bodies of Naftali Frenkel and Gilad Shaar, both aged 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach were found on 30 June. Their funerals were held on Wednesday.

Thousands attended Mohammad Abu Khdair's funeral on Friday near the family's home in the Shufat district of East Jerusalem.

Hundreds of Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli police in East Jerusalem before and after the funeral.