Police swoop on alleged leader of plot to kidnap British boy, 5

Another man wanted in connection with the kidnapping of the Oldham schoolboy as well as 22 murders was also arrested.

The two suspects were captured during Wednesday night raids in the city of Jhelum, where Sahil was taken on March 4.

Police chief Muhammad Aslam Tareen said the men had admitted taking part in the kidnapping and claimed they decided to take the boy and demand a ransom during an opportunistic burglary at the family's house.

He added: "We are still in search of two others. We are after them and very soon we will catch them."

He said one of those arrested was the alleged "mastermind" of the kidnap group and the other was already wanted in Rawalpindi, where his gang had allegedly committed 22 murders.

Police had previously said the kidnappers – four men with guns and grenades – ambushed the family as they prepared to travel to the airport by taxi.

Three people – two Pakistani men and a Romanian woman – have already appeared in court in Spain accused of involvement in the kidnapping. Two others were arrested in France.