Two British men have been arrested in Benidorm, Spain, on suspicion of staging a fake kidnapping to extort £725 from a relative. The suspects, aged 51 and 37, allegedly sent a video to a family member showing a man covered in blood and being threatened with a knife, demanding a ransom be paid into a bank account.
Spanish police launched an investigation after Interpol alerted them to a possible kidnapping of a British citizen in the popular tourist resort. Specialist units were deployed from Madrid, but when officers arrived at the hotel where the supposed crime was taking place, they saw the two men walking out in a “relaxed and amicable way,” according to local reports.
The men were arrested on suspicion of simulating a crime and fraud. During fingerprinting, police discovered that one of the suspects had used a false name when checking into the hotel and when arrested. He was subsequently charged with identity theft.
A spokesperson for Alicante police said: “A relative of the man who had apparently been kidnapped alerted authorities in the UK after receiving videos in which the supposed victim was covered in blood and the alleged kidnapper was threatening him with a knife.” The relative also provided recordings of ransom demands threatening to kill the hostage if the money was not paid.
The suspects had checked into the hotel days before the arrest. The Independent has contacted Spain’s national police for further comment.
