THREE men have been arrested in Andalucia over the gruesome killing of a pregnant woman, her elderly mother and a teenage bystander earlier this summer.
The victims were brutally gunned down by two masked hitmen in the middle of the quiet fishing town of Isla Cristina, Huelva province, on the evening of August 16.
Guardia Civil officers swooped on the suspects in a major operation early on Tuesday, as more than 80 agents raided five properties across Huelva with the help of police dogs and a helicopter.
READ MORE: Teenager killed in Huelva narco massacre was innocent bystander
The detainees, aged between 26 and 36 and described as ‘dangerous’, now face four murder charges each – including the death of the pregnant woman’s unborn baby – as well as allegations of belonging to a criminal organisation.
Officers also seized a firearm, nearly €30,000 in cash, a stash of bulletproof vests and documents allegedly linking the suspects to the murder.
The Guardia Civil said its investigation remains ongoing and that further arrests could not be ‘ruled out’.
Investigators had previously said the fatal shooting could be linked to a settling of scores between rival narco gangs operating in Huelva province.
The killing plunged Isla Cristina into shock after the bike-riding gunmen opened fire on the three victims at around 10pm on a Sunday.
The 39-year-old woman was eight months pregnant at the time, while her 69-year-old mother and an innocent bystander aged under 16 were also killed in the attack.
Two other people were injured in the shooting, with one rushed to hospital in a ‘serious condition’.
Isla Cristina, located less than 10km from the Portuguese border, is one of Andalucia’s most important fishing towns, renowned for its catch from the nearby Atlantic Ocean.
The town is also a popular summer tourist resort, particularly among Spaniards who flock to its idyllic beaches.
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