A wave of violence has unsettled a sector of Alicante as rival criminal groups vie for control of crime in the city, especially in the Northern District. The latest development reports the arrest of a 26-year-old Algerian, bringing the total number of suspects in this wave to eight. Authorities have identified nearly a dozen more individuals in connection with seven violent incidents recorded in Alicante since last July. This coverage has been part of ongoing regional reporting.
The detainee appeared before the Alicante Duty Court on a Friday morning. At the request of the defense, prosecutors proposed a prison without bail. The young man, who chose not to testify, is accused along with three other Algerians of taking part in a violent assault on a residence in Alicante where several residents inhabited the premises.
The incident occurred in a building on the morning of September 27 near Doctor Gómez Ulla Square. Several individuals allegedly posed as police officers, and when the occupants opened the door, they were subjected to intimidation by armed means and forced entry.
His hands and feet are tied
The assailants demanded money, bound the victim, and began beating him. Water was poured over the body, in a move meant to simulate gasoline, and threats were made to harm sensitive areas with pruning shears. The violence escalated as the attackers proceeded with coercive acts designed to intimidate and punish.
The aggressors also taped the victim’s neck and subjected him to momentary suffocation. A resident at home, a woman, was restrained, gagged, and forced to undress. Video footage allegedly captured the attack, and intentions to upload the recording to social media were discussed, according to statements made to investigators.
While the victim sustained injuries, the attackers fled with the couple’s three mobile phones, several pieces of jewelry, their passports, and house keys, according to police reports. The Alicante Judicial Police Brigade Violent Crime Group led the investigation, compiling evidence and sharing names of several attackers. One suspect was identified through fingerprint analysis by the Science Police, aiding in the case against the accused.
As seven individuals linked to the incident were arrested, authorities announced another arrest in the same period. Additional suspects linked to a related incident involving an ax attack against three Alicante residents last July are expected to be seized. Officials note that the series of violent acts has prompted a sustained response from national police in coordination with local authorities to curb the activity of criminal groups of Algerian origin. .