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ARCHIVED - Armed gunman suspected of robbing Alicante petrol station arrested after police shoot out
Shots were fired after the 21-year-old allegedly held up another garage and a supermarket in Novelda, Alicante province
Police have arrested a 21-year-old man suspected of holding up a petrol station in Aspe at gunpoint 24-hours earlier following a terrifying shoot out in the neighbouring town of Novelda.
The suspect has been hospitalised with minor injuries after allegedly robbing another petrol station and a supermarket.
A police manhunt was launched after a hooded gunman entered La Valle de Aspe Cepsa service station just before 8am on Wednesday January 4. He demanded a member of staff hand over money, but there was nothing in the till, so he ran off with a chocolate bar.Police sources say he fled to neighboutring Novelda where he stole the cash register from a BP garage on Avenida Reyes Católicos at gunpoint.
He then allegedly assaulted a member of staff at a supermarket in Novelda's María Auxiliadora neighbourhood before trying to steal a van.
Novelda Local Police were quickly on the scene and, according to witness, the suspect threatened officers with "a pistol" from inside the vehicle he was trying to make a getaway in.
Police reportedly fired "several intimidating shots", but the 21-year-old Spanish man's "aggressive behaviour continued":
Finally, police "reduced" the suspect with a taser.
He was escorted by Guardia Civil officers to Elda General University Hospital where he was treated for non-serious injuries sustained during the arrest.
Novelda's Judicial Police Team, in charge of the investigation, has begun inquiries to clarify full details of the incident. As soon as he has been medically discharged and the first proceedings have been carried out, he will be handed over to the Novelda Court.
Meanwhile, police have seized the weapon, described as an air pistol with disassembled parts. Using only the barrel, the suspect allegedly aimed the gun without displaying it in its entirety, making the victims and police believe it was a loaded firearm.
Novelda's Cpuncillor for Public Safety, Ximo Mira, has praised the "excellent coordination between the State Security Forces, as evidenced by this early arrest."
Assuring the police response was "proportional", he added: "This intervention reinforces the department's policy of modernising and improving our Local Police with the acquisition of new waistcoats, a drone and taser guns, investments that improve the protection of our property and people".
Image: Ayuntamiento de Novelda
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