Australian entertainer Rolf Harris re-arrested on child sex abuse charges

Australian entertainer and artist Rolf Harris was re-arrested by police in Britain on Monday over further allegations of sexual offences.

Harris, 83, was first arrested in March by officers from the unit set up after claims of sex abuse were made against the late BBC TV star Jimmy Savile.

Harris's arrest was unrelated to Savile, who police now believe was a serial abuser of under-age girls and boys.

London's Metropolitan Police said Harris had been "further arrested in connection with further allegations", and re-bailed until a date in August that was not divulged.

He was detained under Operation Yewtree, which was set up following Savile's death in 2011.

The police did not name Harris, but he was widely identified in media reports.

Harris came to Britain in 1952 and has been a popular entertainer since the 1970s. He appeared on stage at a pop concert in front of Buckingham Palace to mark Queen Elizabeth II's diamond jubilee last year.

In May, Harris received a standing ovation when he made his first appearance since his arrest at a show in Bristol.