Five people in the UK are being investigated over allegations relating to the Rwanda genocide 25 years ago, Scotland Yard has confirmed.
The force's war crimes unit, part of the counter-terrorism command, received a referral from Rwandan authorities in January last year.
A Met Police spokeswoman said it related to five individuals in the UK and allegations of genocide offences in Rwanda dating from around 1994.
"Relevant documentation to this was assessed by the war crimes unit and officers were also deployed to Rwanda as part of our initial work to scope the allegations," the spokeswoman added.
"As a result, we have subsequently commenced an investigation which will initially involve a review of all the documentation transferred from Rwanda.
"Given the complexities involved, this is expected to be a protracted and lengthy process. Enquiries continue."
The Daily Mirror reported the suspects are Celestin Mutabaruka, 63, from Kent; Vincent Brown, also known as Vincent Bajinya, 59, from Islington, north London; Celestin Ugirashebuja, 66, from Essex; Charles Munyaneza, 61, from Bedford; and Emmanuel Nteziryayo, from Manchester.
All five deny the allegations against them and involvement in the genocide.
In July 2017 five men with the same names, who were all of Hutu ethnicity, had an extradition bid to have them returned to Rwanda blocked by the UK High Court.
At the time judges agreed there was a real risk they would be denied a fair trial if they were returned.
An estimated 800,000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis but including some moderate Hutus, died in 100 days of slaughter and ethnic cleansing between April 7 and July 1994.
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