The Mossos d’Esquadra identified three individuals as the alleged perpetrators in a case that shocked Salou in 2022. The incident, tied to a broader clash between French crime groups, sparked a rapid investigation that culminated in arrests on both sides of the border. French authorities were alerted early, with ongoing cooperation helping to piece together the sequence of events that led to the rematch between rival groups. [Citation: Mossos d’Esquadra]
Authorities reported that the crime occurred while the victims were visiting Salou, a short distance from Tarragona. The assailants, after moving through the town, carried out the act and then returned to France on the same day, according to updates from Police Generalitat. The preliminary assessments indicated a planned operation carried out by multiple individuals who had traveled across borders. [Citation: Police Generalitat]
The incident unfolded around 10:30 a.m. on May 9 of the previous year. A man of French nationality was fatally wounded on Saragossa Street in Salou. Bystanders and local residents helped immobilize one of the suspects until a Salou Local Police patrol intervened and placed him under custody. The initial identification suggested the suspect presented forged documents obtained in France and carried a firearm that, at first glance, did not appear to have been used in the fatal attack. [Citation: Local Police]
Subsequent operations revealed additional details: investigators found that the suspect had a significant history of violent crimes and offenses against public health, as reflected in records shared by French authorities. The two other alleged perpetrators, who fled Salou in a vehicle, were seen entering a Tarragona food venue where security cameras captured their movements. A 38 caliber pistol, concealed under a container, and items of clothing linked to the crime were found among the gear they carried during the attack. [Citation: French authorities; Local surveillance]
As the two suspects left the dining area, a Mossos d’Esquadra patrol arrived at the establishment’s parking lot. They observed the suspects attempt a hurried departure in their vehicles, leaving behind several concealed items. Investigators promptly recovered these objects to establish a direct link to the Salou crime and the individuals involved. [Citation: Mossos d’Esquadra]
The fugitives continued toward the border, ultimately stopping near La Jonquera in Girona. They then switched to another vehicle and proceeded into France. Authorities compiled evidence from the abandoned vehicle and the weapon used in the attack, enabling a coordinated rematch plan to connect the French groups behind the crime. [Citation: Joint investigation]
In the ensuing days, investigators examined arrest data for one of the suspects and cross-checked the recovered weapon and other materials. The cooperation mechanism with French authorities proved essential, allowing a rapid identification of the remaining two suspects who had fled the scene. One faced a minor offense, while the other was linked to an attempted murder case. [Citation: Cooperative staging]
On the legal front, Tarragona Court of Inquiry No. 2 coordinated with the EUROJUST platform, illustrating the cross-border nature of this case. Although the events began in Catalonia, the suspect detained in Salou faced trial in France, with all investigative documents transmitted to French judges. The trio currently awaits trial in France as authorities continue their cross-border proceedings. [Citation: EUROJUST; Tarragona Court of Inquiry No. 2]