Two men arrested over theft of David Oluwale plaque
The commemoration to the British-Nigerian man was stolen just hours after it was unveiled
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of theft after a blue plaque commemorating the life of David Oluwale was stolen in Leeds.
The tribute to Olewale was taken from Leeds Bridge just hours after it was unveiled close to the spot where he drowned in 1969.
Police confirmed one man was arrested in Leeds at 8am on Monday 09 May, and another man was arrested on April 28 and released under investigation.
Inquires are ongoing to identify a third man.
The plaque has been replaced twice since it was first revealed, with a temporary replacement also damaged.
Since then, images of the blue plaque have appeared on billboards across Leeds.
Who was David Oluwale?
David Oluwale came to Britain from Nigeria in August 1949, hiding on a cargo ship that was travelling to Hull.
He spent the final two years of his life homeless in Leeds city centre, where he was routinely harassed and abused by two police officers.
Oluwale was chased onto a bridge onto the River Aire in April 1969, where his body was found in the water two weeks later.
Two police officers were jailed for a series of assaults on Oluwale a short time after, but were found not guilty of manslaughter.