Gang Who Intimidated Off-Duty Guardia Civil Arrested

Authorities in the Alicante Province town of Pinoso have arrested five people after a Guardia Civil officer’s personal car was found torched and graffiti appeared on his house. They have been on the ‘wanted’ list since February after ‘worrying’ slogans were found sprayed on the wall of the municipal cemetery in Pinoso and on a policeman’s house in the town.

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Two months later, the officer’s car was set alight whilst it was parked outside his family home, and the flames spread to two other vehicles, destroying them completely. The fire also caused minor damage to the property itself, blackening the rendering. As a result, the Guardia Civil officer said he and his family began to fear for their safety.

Over the next few months, the group – all Spaniards and aged between 33 and 36 – planned similar actions targeting the Guardia Civil in Pinoso and neighbouring Novelda. Between them, they had previously been arrested 39 times for 78 offences including grievous bodily harm, domestic violence, drug-trafficking and possession, forgery – which also covered producing counterfeit banknotes – fraud, breaking and entering, theft and burglary, among others.

Their intention was to threaten and intimidate police officers by targeting them off-duty, in order to avoid arrest. All five were caught last weekend in Novelda and taken into custody. Despite their history, however, a judge released them with charges and an injunction preventing them approaching the affected officer and his family.