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ARCHIVED - Violent fugitives wanted for bank robberies in Alicante and Murcia are captured
The elusive criminals allegedly held up banks and took hostages in the Murcian district of Cobatillas and the Alicante town of Benijófa
A violent gang that specialised in armed bank robberies with hostages in Alicante and Murcia has been brought down following the arrests of two ringleaders; one who fled justice following a violent raid and another who was on the run from prison.
The pair, along with three other detainees, are wanted in connection with bank robberies at branches in the Murcian district of Cobatillas and the Alicante town of Benijófa.
In both terrifying raids, firearms were used and employees and customers were taken hostage. One of the robbers, who has now been detained, had failed to return to prison after a day release.
The second fugitive was arrested after fleeing the Benijófa robbery along the AP-7 in the wrong direction and crashing.
Operation 'Seim-Veteran' was launched at the end of March following "several violent robberies", in particular a bank heist with intimidation in Cobatillas. Early enquiries indicated two men were behind the hold-up, one of them armed with a pistol and the other with a large knife.
During the robbery, the perpetrators tied up six people with plastic ties and restrained them until they had opened the bank's safe and stolen more than 40,000 euros. Three of the suspects who have now been arrested pretended to be customers to assist in the robbery.
The Benijófa branch was targeted in May using the same modus operandi, and by now police had identified the five suspects. This time, the Local Police were quickly on the scene and in a desperate attempt to make a getaway, the second of the main gang members led a hostage at gunpoint to a parked car where he abandoned her and fled in the vehicle.
Police set chase and the Guardia Civil eventually cuffed him in San Miguel de Salinas, after he drove recklessly on the AP-7 in the wrong direction and jumped a toll barrier at Los Montesinos.
He was carrying, amongst other things, a pistol, a knife and a phone. It was also verified that he was subject to an arrest warrant.
The alleged ringleader who had failed to return to prison was discovered hiding out at a house in the Murcian town of Fortuna where detectives also seized a multitude of weapons, ammunition and objects used in the armed robberies.
Further arrests were made in Almoradí in the Vega Baja area of Alicante province and the five detainees have been charged with offences including robbery with violence and intimidation, illegal detention, illegal possession of weapons, concealment and reckless driving.
The two main suspects have been remanded in prison and the other three have been released on various conditions.
Now read: Spanish police launch appeal for help in capturing two remaining most wanted fugitives
Images: Guardia Civil
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