Spanish authorities have apprehended two UK citizens in connection with a brutal attempted murder that left a British man paralyzed from the neck down. The suspected shooter was caught trying to board a flight to Edinburgh at Alicante airport, while a woman was also arrested at the same airport upon entering Spain.
Both individuals are believed to be associated with a violent criminal group from the UK. The victim, a 27-year-old man, sustained life-altering injuries when he was shot outside his home in Santiago de la Ribera near the La Manga golf resort. Quick action by police officers at the scene saved his life by stemming the bleeding from the gunshot wounds.
Although initial reports suggested the victim was left tetraplegic by a masked assailant who fled the scene in a vehicle, police have not confirmed this detail. A car resembling the suspect vehicle, containing a silenced pistol and other incriminating items, was discovered abandoned and burnt in a tunnel on the AP-7 motorway.
The arrests were made public by the Civil Guard following an extensive investigation into the shooting that occurred on November 18, 2024. Evidence recovered from the burnt car, including the weapon used in the attack, corroborated the suspects’ involvement in the crime.
The operation, named Operation Esbroya 24, uncovered that the arrested individuals were part of a criminal faction from the UK that specifically traveled to the Murcian coast to target and harm the victim, referred to only as Aaron. Aaron was rushed to a hospital in Murcia where he underwent extensive treatment for the gunshot wounds he sustained.
Neighbours initially mistook the gunshots for firecrackers before emergency services arrived at the scene. The victim’s nationality was initially reported as Ukrainian but later confirmed to be British, with reports indicating a possible connection to a criminal gang from Torrevieja.
Local sources mentioned a possible vendetta against the victim, suggesting he had relocated to Santiago de la Ribera due to conflicts with a criminal organization in Torrevieja. The victim’s survival was deemed fortunate as none of the shots inflicted fatal injuries.
The investigation received support from UK authorities, showcasing international cooperation in resolving the case. The arrests occurred in April and May, with details of the operation only recently disclosed by Spanish police.