Two off-duty officers from the Guardia Urbana (Barcelona City Police) have made an off-duty police arrest in the Ciutat Vella district. They witnessed a man fleeing the scene of a violent robbery and intervened.
The incident took place around 2:00 pm on Tuesday in the Sant Pere neighbourhood. Meanwhile, officers who were off duty and walking in the area noticed a man running swiftly down the street. He was repeatedly looking back over his shoulder while clutching a mobile phone.
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Off-duty police arrest after suspicious behaviour
Identifying the man’s behaviour as suspicious, the agents identified themselves as police and began a pursuit. They managed to intercept and detain the suspect on Carrer de les Basses de Sant Pere.
Uniformed patrols were quickly dispatched to the scene to assist. Upon investigation, officers confirmed that the man had stolen the mobile phone from a woman on a nearby street just minutes prior. The victim stated that the thief had forcibly taken the device after a physical struggle before sprinting away.
Knife threat against witness precedes arrest
Further testimony taken at the scene revealed the robbery could have escalated significantly. A witness told police that they had attempted to restrain the thief immediately after the assault on the woman. However, the suspect reportedly brandished a knife to deter the witness. This allowed him to break free.
The suspect’s escape was short-lived, however. He ran directly into the path of the off-duty agents.
Therefore, the detainee has been accused of robbery with violence. He is expected to be brought before the Barcelona duty court in the coming hours.
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