A homophobic gang has been broken up by police in Almeria after it targeted a series of gay men via the Grindr dating app.
A court in El Ejido has ordered the provisional detention, without bail, of a 20-year-old man accused of leading the criminal group. He is a jobless, convicted criminal from Morocco.
According to court documents, the case reveals a disturbing level of planning and violence against gay and bisexual men along the Almeria coast – an area popular with British tourists and expats.
The suspects allegedly acted in groups, concealed their faces with balaclavas and shouted homophobic insults as they assaulted their victims.
Fake profile used to lure victims
The investigation, led by the Guardia Civil under Operation ‘URGI 26 ROLO’, uncovered what officers describe as a calculated modus operandi.
The suspect is accused of creating a fake profile on the app using photographs taken from a third party without their consent.
After building trust and arranging a sexual encounter, the alleged victims were directed to Calle Fresal in Las Norias de Daza.
At the last moment, they were redirected to nearby Calle Loro – a more secluded location that investigators believe was chosen to minimise witnesses.
New Year’s Eve attack
The most serious incident outlined in the court order allegedly took place in the early hours of New Year’s Eve.
At around 2am on December 31, one victim arrived at the agreed meeting point and was reportedly confronted by four hooded individuals. According to the judicial account, the group chased the man, knocked him to the ground and kicked him repeatedly while shouting homophobic abuse and threats.
The violence was such that one of the attackers allegedly bit the victim’s hand in order to steal his mobile phone.
Pattern repeated in January
Investigators say a similar assault took place on January 19. Three men allegedly approached another victim before assaulting him and stealing a waist bag.
Days later, on January 23, the detained suspect was identified as the alleged ringleader in a third incident.
Court documents state he was the one ‘leading the attack’, punching a victim in the face while others restrained him.
The investigating judge justified the decision to remand the suspect in custody due to the seriousness of the alleged offences – robbery with violence and causing injury, aggravated by hate – as well as concerns over possible flight risk, given reported links to a foreign country.
The court also cited the risk of reoffending and the need to protect victims from potential reprisals. The suspect is said to have no known occupation and to have prior convictions.
The Guardia Civil investigation remains ongoing as officers continue efforts to identify and locate the remaining alleged members of the group.
Users of hook-up apps like Grindr are reminded to be careful of who they are meeting. It is always safer to meet in a crowded, public setting to avoid falling prey to potential predators.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
