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Date Published: 23/04/2025

Fugitive wanted for French nightclub murder captured in Alicante

The killer had been moving around Spain for more than a month before hiding out on the Costa Blanca

A month and a half after going on the run for a brutal murder in France, a fugitive has been arrested in the city of Alicante, where he was reportedly preparing to flee the country to Algeria.

Sid Ahmed Berrayeh, the 26-year-old man wanted by French authorities for the killing of a nightclub employee in Saint-Étienne, had been evading capture by hopping between provinces across Spain.

During his time on the run, he was temporarily hidden by a friend in Ciudad Real, before finally being tracked down by Spanish police in Alicante’s Plaza de Orán.

The victim, a security guard at a popular local nightclub, was found dead on February 9. His body was discovered lying between a sofa and the floor, with signs of strangulation and a severe head injury.

According to a family member, the man had not been heard from for days, prompting relatives to visit his home, where they found the grisly scene.

"He was locked in his house and his keys were missing. His phone was also nowhere to be found," the relative said.

Investigators believe the suspect had been staying at the victim’s home shortly before the murder.

In early March, a European Arrest Warrant was issued and Interpol circulated a Red Notice containing Berrayeh’s details to police forces around the world. Authorities soon discovered he had crossed into Spain, initially taking refuge in Ciudad Real. From there, he moved frequently in an attempt to avoid detection before eventually making his way south to the Costa Blanca.

French authorities worked closely with the Spanish National Police and the French Liaison Officer in Madrid to track the fugitive’s movements. After weeks of surveillance and coordination, Berrayeh was finally located and arrested in Alicante.

He now faces extradition to France, where he could receive up to 30 years in prison for the homicide.

Also of interest: Elderly foreign driver plunges onto Torrevieja's seafront rocks

Images: Policia Nacional/Interpol

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