Authorities have apprehended a man suspected of sexually assaulting a female British tourist and violently robbing an elderly British couple on the same day in Tenerife.
The suspect reportedly used a martial arts technique known as a rear naked choke, rendering the woman partially unconscious, before robbing her of her mobile phone. The assault occurred in a remote location where the suspect took advantage of the woman’s vulnerability, as stated by a spokesperson from Spain’s National Police.
On the same day of the alleged assault, the suspect also attacked an 89-year-old man and his 79-year-old wife, causing injuries that required hospitalization. The police spokesperson mentioned that the suspect assaulted the elderly couple using physical force.
Additionally, the suspect is linked to another incident on March 20 involving the violent theft of a necklace from a Swedish tourist, where the suspect forcefully grabbed the victim’s neck.
The Spanish National Police announced the arrest of the suspect, who is believed to be responsible for the sexual assault and two violent robberies in southern Tenerife.
The initial incident occurred in late March in Las Veronicas, Playa de las Américas, where the victim reported the crime and provided crucial images of the suspect, aiding the investigation.
Police were already investigating two violent robbery cases in Arona, with one incident matching the date of the sexual assault and another occurring three days earlier, showing similarities in the suspect’s description and violent behavior.
The spokesperson elaborated that in both robbery cases, the suspect displayed extreme violence, particularly targeting an elderly couple in one instance. The altercation involved an attempted theft of a watch, leading to a physical confrontation resulting in the suspect taking a bag of items from the victims.
A witness captured a photo of the suspect, aiding in the investigation that led to the suspect’s arrest on March 27.