TWO Brit tourists have been arrested in Benidorm for demanding a £725 ransom as part of an alleged fake kidnapping scheme.
The pair are accused of sending a relative a staged video which showed one of the suspects threatening to kill his “blood-covered” pal with a knife.
Two Brits were arrested on suspicion of scheming a fake kidnappingCredit: Getty
The Brits staged the alleged fake kidnappingCredit: Alamy
Local cops said the stunt was a desperate bid to make some “quick cash” for their trip to the Spanish holiday hotspot.
After seeing the bogus hostage clip, suspended all investigations and called for back-up from a specialist anti-hostage unit in .
Authorities then prepared to raid the hotel where they believed the Brit was being held captive.
But the operation was called off when the alleged victim was spotted strolling out of the building in a “relaxed” manner – alongside his supposed captor.
The Brits, aged 51 and 37, had demanded a ransom of £725 to release the supposed hostage.
The two tourists were then arrested on charges of simulating a and fraud.
Both of the holidaymakers now face jail time – and could be slapped with a hefty fine for obstructing police activity.
Alicante cops said: “Officers in Benidorm have arrested two British men aged 37 and 51 for simulating a kidnap with the aim of making some quick cash.
“Our began after a tip-off from Interpol about the possible abduction of a British national in the resort.
“A relative of the man who had apparently been kidnapped, who initially alerted authorities in the UK, said he had received videos in which the supposed victim was covered in blood and the alleged kidnapper was threatening him with a knife.
“Officers contacted British consular officials so they could provide the images they’d received from the tipster.”
Local police also explained how UK authorities provided recordings of conversations where the “kidnapper” made ransom demands.
The suspected captor said the man would be killed if money wasn’t paid.
“A police unit with officers based in Madrid who specialised in dealing with kidnaps and extortion were also mobilised,” cops added.
“They managed to establish direct phone contact with the relative of the man supposedly being held hostage who supplied a photo of the alleged kidnapper and information suggesting that if £725 wasn’t paid into the abductor’s bank account the other person would be killed.
“This happened as a large number of officers from Benidorm Police Station were called on to try to locate the ‘kidnap location’.
“All the police investigations that were taking place in the resort were suspended while this happened, and the focus placed on making sure as many officers as possible were mobilised with the aim of resolving the situation as soon as possible so the threat made wasn’t carried out and no-one was killed.
After cops identified the hotel the pair were in, they discovered they had checked in days earlier.
Police then deployed a “discreet watch” to the establishment – before spotting the pair “chatting in a relaxed and amicable way”.
Both men were then intercepted and identified.
Police said: “It soon became apparent the kidnap had been staged with the aim of earning quick cash and both were arrested on suspicion of simulating a crime and for fraud.
“When they were being fingerprinted at a nearby police station, officers also discovered the supposed kidnapper had given a false name both when he checked into the hotel and when he identified himself to the police who arrested him.
“He was subsequently read his rights for another suspected crime of identity fraud.”
The pair face having to pay the cost of the police operation to resolve the staged kidnap if they are found guilty.
Spanish Police arrested two Brits in BenidormCredit: Getty
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