An armed Spanish fugitive who had kidnapped his own children, was caught on Wednesday November 22nd, in Vila Real de Santo António by eagle-eyed Portuguese police.
This suspect was subject to a European arrest warrant issued to bring him in to face a raft of charges in Spain, including one of domestic violence.
According to the Portuguese police, it was while on a "routine mission in a shopping area" when officers detected a car with three children inside that was identical to the one they had been on the lookout for.
For this reason, a "discreet surveillance of the vehicle" was mounted, until the man returned to the car. At that moment, police pounced and the man was questioned. His identity, as well as that of the three minors, was immediately confirmed and he was taken to the VRSA police station, as were the children.
When officers searched the car thoroughly, they discovered four firearms, one was a 9mm pistol, ammunition of various calibres, a dagger, several items of gold, about €247,000 in cash and several ID documents that did not belong to him, including his wife’s national identification card.
The three children were taken to a Faro hospital, accompanied by staff from the VRSA Child Protection Agency but were unharmed so were sent to an institution where they will stay for the time being.
The Spaniard’s case will be heard in the Court of Appeal of Évora and it is highly likely he will be shipped back across the border to face charges.
