POLICE in Spain have arrested an Irishman on suspicion of a Costa Blanca stabbing last month.
The 58-year-old was held on suspicion of attempted murder as detectives on the Costa Blanca revealed today the victim had been urinating when he was attacked from behind.
Cops described the unnamed detainee as someone with “previous in Ireland for serious crimes, including homicides with firearms and drugs trafficking”.
It was not immediately clear this morning if the “previous” the Civil Guard referenced in relation to the stabbing suspect are convictions or arrests that haven’t yet resulted in convictions.
They also revealed they had received help from Gardai who supplied fingerprint details which enabled them to confirm his ID.
Confirming the arrest today in Orihuela, on the Costa Blanca, the Civil Guard in Alicante said: “Officers have arrested a 58-year-old Irishman as the suspected author of a crime of attempted homicide.
“He allegedly stabbed another 29-year-old Irishman in the neck with a Stanley knife, with the victim left needing an emergency life-saving operation in Torrevieja Hospital.
“The operation, codenamed Combination, was launched on June 15, shortly after a stabbing incident in a street near to the small La Zenia shopping centre.
“There, after a row, the victim was attacked from behind while he was urinating next to an electrical transformer, suffering a deep cut to his neck.”
The Civil Guard spokesman added: “Evidence obtained by detectives enabled us to place the suspect in the area around the time of the attack.
“After interviewing the victim following his operation, officers managed to fully identify the alleged author.
“Although he had left his home days earlier and his whereabouts was unknown, the circulation of information about his identity resulted in police in Orihuela Costa locating him in a park in the municipality.
GARDA HELP
“He had no identification on him and the help of Irish authorities proved key as they facilitated his fingerprints.
“This also enabled Civil Guard officers to corroborate that he had previous in Ireland for serious crimes including homicides with firearms and drug trafficking.
“The suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide.”
BAIL RELEASE
Despite the serious charge he is facing, police confirmed a court in Orihuela had decided to release the unnamed Irishman on conditional bail with a restraining order preventing him from going near his alleged victim.
It was not immediately clear why an investigating judge had taken the decision to bail him and not remand him in custody pending an ongoing criminal probe.
The stabbing arrest the Civil Guard only went public with today happened on June 30.
The 58-year-old was held on suspicion of attempted murder[/caption]
