What began as a family’s desperate plea for answers ended in a cross-border manhunt a tragic discovery in a quiet Spanish grove and the unravelling of a chilling crime that spanned two countries arrived in Alicante in early December 2024 like many others before him—drawn by the promise of sun his fate would take a dark and irreversible turn His last known contact was a phone call to his father on Saturday on December 21 his worried father flew to Spain and reported him missing launching a full-scale investigation by the Civil Guard investigators retraced George’s footsteps—from Benidorm’s vibrant streets to the more secluded terrain of Rojales a town that would ultimately become the grim backdrop to this tragedy officers of the Judicial Police Unit of the Civil Guard in Alicante aided by forensic experts and European counterparts Witnesses led them to two individuals who had been in George’s company in the days before he vanished—men who quickly became prime suspects police uncovered George’s lifeless body—hidden in a rural area among the trees of Rojales An autopsy confirmed their worst fears: he had been shot dead the same day he last spoke to his father authorities made their first arrest: a 32-year-old Czech national residing in Torrevieja believed to have played a key role as an accomplice in the murder He was brought before a judge in Torrevieja and released with charges—under strict conditions But the alleged trigger man was still on the run the main suspect—a 27-year-old Irish national with a criminal record in his home country—fled Spain shortly after the murder he abandoned even his dogs in his Orihuela home but he left behind more than pets—he left behind a trail of evidence A European Arrest Warrant was swiftly issued Working with INTERPOL and Portuguese authorities the Civil Guard’s hunt finally came to a conclusion on March 25 He was extradited to Spain on April 3 and now sits in custody under a no-bail order issued by the Court of Instruction No The case has drawn praise for its swift resolution and seamless international cooperation led by the Pilar de la Horadada Judicial Police Team and Criminalistics Lab of the Alicante Command with assistance from European law enforcement agencies—especially in Portugal—was a testament to transnational policing at its finest What remains now is justice—for a young man whose final visit to Spain turned into a fatal encounter and for a father whose relentless search brought light to a hidden crime Log in to leave a comment © 2021 The Leader Digital Javier de la Iglesia presented works that start from basic geometric patterns to capture an interior world full of architectural figures and contrasts to play with the perception of space and time Admission to the exhibition is free and visiting hours are from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 15:00 hours Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain Rojales is hosting an art exhibition titled “Patria” by artist Justo Gil Girona The exhibit is on display in the Mengolero Room at the Rodeo Caves and runs until February 22 This collection features 16 of the 17 works created with image transfer The artworks resemble flags that are “hoisted and burned night after night,” symbolising the ongoing cycle of unity and division The exhibition invites viewers to explore themes of symbols It envisions a society detached from its central system leading to the emergence of a new social structure and visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm the exhibition is open on the first Sunday of February from 10:30am to 3:30pm Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain by delivering news with a social conscience we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP) Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall) All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE Download our media pack in either English or Spanish John George was discovered beneath lemon trees and overgrown foliage on a remote roadside which has been pictured for the first time(Image: JHR/SOLARPIX.COM)This is the spot where the remains of holidaymaker John George was murdered in Spain were discovered after he was dumped on a rural roadside Police in Costa Blanca are investigating after dad-of-two John was murdered and his body abandoned in the remote spot Harrowing pictures have now emerged showing the scene as detectives bring in metal detectors - while John's family pleads for answers John four days after his last known contact with them on December 14 and Civil Guard officers carried out weeks of searching the search ended in the discovery of a body on a road outside Rojales near Torrevieja - around a 45 minute drive south from Alicante - on Tuesday Images from the scene show a trail of dried blood still visible on the tarmac with his body understood to have been discarded beneath a patch of overgrown lemon trees The first pictures of the remote spot where Belfast man John George’s body was dumped after he went missing during a Costa Blanca holiday(Image: JHR/SOLARPIX.COM)The obscured spot at the edge of an orchard may be why he was not found until weeks later Police have also marked arrows on the ground by the bloodstains Officers were seen back at the scene on Thursday using a metal detector over nearby ground It comes as colleagues continued to question a 32-year-old man The suspect's name has not been publicly released Laws in Spain allow the Civil Guard up to 72 hours to keep suspects in custody for questioning The deadline is due to expire on Friday afternoon after which they must seek an extension from a judge K9 Search and Rescue teams scouring land near Alicante in the search for John George(Image: PA)In its only official comments so far, an Alicante-based spokesman for the Civil Guard said yesterday: “Yesterday morning the Civil Guard discovered the body of a man in Rojales. The Territorial Judicial Police team of Pilar de la Horadada has been put in charge of the ongoing investigation. “All the necessary work is being done at the moment to determine the cause of death and confirm the man’s identity. Pending the full forensic results everything is pointing to it being a missing person whose family reported his disappearance on 21 December 2024. “Following the discovery of the body, a 32 year old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of homicide. Further information will be provided as soon as more details become available.” A local watching police working today at the spot where John’s body was found on Tuesday, who asked not to be named, said: “Clearly someone’s driven here and then driven away after leaving the body. It’s not the sort of place you’d come to on foot. “The fact whoever’s responsible doesn’t seem to have made any attempt to dig even a shallow grave and has just left the body partially obscured by branches and foliage on the lemon trees points to them being in a hurry. The place the body was left is a privately-owned orchard. The police will have already contacted the landowner for sure to see if he saw anything suspicious." The investigation into the murder of 37-year-old Northern Irishman John George The Civil Guard is expanding its search beyond Spain after suspicions arose that the alleged killer may have fled to Thailand Sources familiar with the case have revealed to local media that the Czech citizen who was initially arrested following the discovery of the body is not believed to be the perpetrator of the crime who is suspected of having fled abroad following the murder The family of John George has pointed to the suspect as a drug dealer with connections to the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) has prompted the Civil Guard to request international cooperation to track the fugitive down was found concealed among trees in a lemon grove in Rojales,cclose to Torrevieja it was confirmed that George had been shot dead matching the information provided by a witness who claimed that someone confessed to the killing See also: Arrest made following discover of body in Rojales The witness further indicated that the body was disposed of between Torrevieja and Benidorm Those details were shared with George’s family through a message published by the Sunday World newspaper which also revealed that one of the suspects had taken the weapon used in the crime to “clean it.” also known as “Georgie,” had left his apartment around 10 pm on 14th December the man returned with a firearm and confessed to shooting George The witness further stated that “Georgie did not arrive in Benidorm,” suggesting that the victim was killed soon after leaving his home Though there were initial doubts about the identity of the body found in the lemon grove the Civil Guard has now been able to confirm the victim’s identity using fingerprints Several tattoos on the body matched those of John George confirming that he was the man who had been missing since December 14 the last day he communicated with his family George had planned to return to Northern Ireland on a flight scheduled for December 18 but never boarded The investigation has also highlighted the involvement of several other individuals close to the victim John George’s father has shared the names of at least six people he believes may be connected to the murder Among these individuals are the man currently in custody as well as a woman who is reportedly the girlfriend of the primary suspect and has an OnlyFans account with adult content the woman posted a message on her social media stating that she had no knowledge of George’s whereabouts She has since claimed to have received 30 death threats related to the case is still in the custody of the Civil Guard with his level of involvement yet to be fully established he is expected to face charges related to the concealment of the murder has been actively campaigning for information about his disappearance and murder They have offered a reward of £30,000 (approximately €35,000) for any information leading to the arrest of the killer they launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of searching for George and repatriating his body back to Northern Ireland a Facebook group named “Justice for John George” has been created The page serves as a platform for condolences and messages of support with many people expressing their sympathy for the grieving family John George’s father has also posted emotional tributes to his son describing his grief and shock over the brutal loss Ongoing Investigation and International Efforts While the search for the fugitive continues the Civil Guard’s investigation remains active with the cooperation of international law enforcement agencies sought to locate the suspect The Spanish authorities are working closely with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to trace the movements of the alleged killer and efforts are being made to ensure justice for John George and his devastated family authorities are hopeful that the collaboration between Spanish and international police will bring closure to the case and help locate the individual responsible for this tragic loss © 2021 The Leader Digital. All Rights Reserved. John George’s family joined volunteers in the search for the 37-year-old before a body was discovered in Rojales on 7 January Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A body has been found in the search for a father who went missing while in Spain with local police arresting a 32-year-old man on suspicion of murder The alarm was raised for the whereabouts of John George after the “generous” 37-year-old failed to return to his children in Belfast, Northern Ireland before Christmas. His family, including his father Billy and younger brother Darren, joined dozens of volunteers to search the mountains and waste dumps around Alicante a body was discovered in the small village of Rojales A Guarda Civil police spokesperson told The Independent: “At this time the relevant procedures are being carried out to determine the causes of death and proceed with the identification of the body although in the absence of forensic results everything indicates that it could be a missing person whose family reported his disappearance on the same day a 32-year-old man was arrested for an alleged crime of homicide.” previously told The Independent he feared his brother was dead after disappearing on telling the family he was going to pick up his passport on 14 December He told the BBC: “I have climbed through mountains I have crawled through drainpipes and sewers I’ve done everything in my power to find my brother This has been a living nightmare and it will continue.” His sister posted on Facebook: “John my big brother I honestly can’t get my head around the fact I will never see or hear from you again.” said he had laid flowers close to where the body was found He said: “I never thought in my life I would have to lay flowers in a foreign country The Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were made aware with Mr George’s family at this distressing time “Our dedicated family liaison officers continue to provide support to the family and we continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies “I am keen to reiterate our appeal for anyone with information that could assist the Spanish Investigation Team with their enquiries to please contact us on 101.” govt and politics"},{"score":0.633823,"label":"/family and parenting/children"},{"score":0.594598,"label":"/law “Viva la Vida de Frida Kahlo” is a play that focuses on the life of celebrated Mexican painter Frida Kahlo This play will be presented at the Capitol Theatre in Rojales on November 30 the audience will be able to immerse themselves in the most important moments of her life from her relationship with the famous muralist Diego Rivera to her personal struggles with illness and pain The work explores Kahlo’s passion and suffering and her struggle for self-expression through art Admission is free until full capacity is reached a 37-year-old man from Belfast was last in touch with his family on December 14 After he failed to board his scheduled flight home on Wednesday, December 18, he was officially declared missing, and a major search for answers and his whereabouts began on December 23.  Sadly, on January 7 2025, it was confirmed that a body had been found by Spanish authorities, which was later identified as that of missing Irishman John George (also known as John Hardy) he has been returned to his family in Belfast where they have been able to lay him to rest they now want whoever was responsible to be brought to justice A new Spotlight documentary by the BBC has provided further information about what actually happened and the most likely suspects According to the documentary, John’s body was found in a lemon grove in Rojales in the Costa Blanca South region of Spain A post-mortem confirmed that he had been stabbed in the leg and beaten before being killed by gunshots to the face and chest In piecing together his final days in Spain who explained that John had been invited to attend a party in Spain by Jonny Smyth his father contacted Jonny only to be told that he had moved on and gone to Benidorm He then advised that John was flying back home and sent his family the flight info so they could meet him at the airport We now know that John was never on that flight one of the last people John had been seen with contacted Billy to advise where John’s body was located as were various other ‘supposed’ sightings of John Michael Maly who eventually offered the correct location of where John was found A Czech national and former soldier in the French Foreign Legion he has since been arrested and appeared in court in connection with the murder It was this same man who sat face-to-face with John’s father and confirmed that he had been in the flat sources within Spanish law enforcement have tracked him flying as far as Abu Dhabi The Guardia Civil has confirmed that the investigation remains open These are not normal well behaved citizens having a holiday in the sun this man was still someone’s son and father who was taken from them in a brutal way A 39-year-old Lithuanian man was shot and killed yesterday outside a villa in Rojales where he allegedly attempted to steal drugs Civil Guard officers discovered a substantial marijuana plantation within the property The incident came to light when the victim’s partner reported his disappearance prompting a search by the Local Police and the Civil Guard Authorities believe the shooter was likely the person responsible for the marijuana plantation who fled the scene before law enforcement arrived secretary of the Sub-delegation of the Government in Alicante confirmed the discovery of the body in the Ciudad Quesada area of Rojales who had a prior criminal history involving drugs the victim’s partner informed the Local Police and later the Civil Guard in Almoradí that he had gone to steal drugs from the villa but had not returned where they found the man’s body outside the entrance Judicial and criminal police specialists were called to the scene and the judicial commission was notified to remove the body Local residents reported that Civil Guard officers visited their homes around 2:00 a.m. presumably to gather information about the villa’s occupants The Civil Guard returned to the property the following morning to conduct a thorough search Officers removed six large garbage bags filled with marijuana plants and examined the villa for evidence that could help identify those responsible for the crime Authorities are now focused on locating the perpetrator(s) believed to have fled the villa before security forces arrived The investigation continues as officers work to piece together the events leading to the shooting and uncover the identities of those involved The Symphonic Tribute to The Lord of the Rings arrives at the Capitol Theatre in Rojales on December 27 The saga’s combination of live music and visuals promises an immersive experience that will captivate fans of J.R.R. Tolkien and symphonic music alike. Advance tickets are priced from 30 euros and can be purchased at www.whimsyplans.com This year’s production of the classic pantomime Dick Whittington from the Rojales Pantomime Group promises to delight audiences with its tale of adventure At the centre of the story are Dick (played by Dianne Scott) Dick Whittington is a young dreamer who comes to London hoping to find fortune and a better life His journey is full of determination and innocence the kind and courageous daughter of Alderman Fitzwarren She provides support and encouragement for Dick inspiring him to stay strong during tough times Their teamwork and belief in one another highlight important themes like the power of friendship and self-confidence The pantomime will be performed at the Cardenal Belluga Theatre in San Fulgencio on December 5 Tickets are now available at: The Post Box Punta Prima; and The Post Shop in Villamartin You can also reserve tickets via email at rojalestickets4panto@gmail.com Spanish police have arrested a 32-year-old man from an Eastern European country in connection with the suspected murder of Belfast man John George whose decomposing body was discovered on a farm in Rojales believed to be that of the 37-year-old father of two was found hidden among trees and in an advanced state of decomposition had been on holiday in Alicante and was last in contact with his family on December 14 His disappearance triggered weeks of intensive searching by family four days after failing to board his return flight to Northern Ireland from Alicante-Elche Airport The grim discovery was made in a rural area of Rojales on Tuesday morning Specialists from the Civil Guard’s Criminalistics Laboratory and Judicial Police were dispatched to inspect the scene while a judicial commission was alerted to oversee the removal of the body The remains have been transferred to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Alicante where an autopsy will determine the exact cause of death See also: Family claims Belfast man was lured to his death Sources close to the investigation revealed that the arrest of the 32-year-old suspect occurred just hours after the body was discovered and additional arrests have not been ruled out as it is believed that others involved in the crime may still be at large The Territorial Judicial Police Team of Pilar de la Horadada is leading the inquiry and the Alicante Command has confirmed that the case is being treated as a homicide Family’s Response and Search Efforts John George’s disappearance deeply concerned his family who had feared foul play since losing contact with him in mid-December The family officially reported him missing to the Guardia Civil on December 21 and offered a £30,000 reward for any information leading to his whereabouts In a statement released through their lawyer the family confirmed they had been informed of the discovery by Spanish police Billy George was told that his son’s body is now in a morgue awaiting formal identification The family is distraught but also relieved by this latest news which brings to an end an extremely tortuous search for the body.” The lawyer also added that Spanish authorities had launched a murder investigation into the case had traveled to Alicante to organize search operations even enlisting rescue teams with specialized search dogs Flyers circulated during the search revealed that John George had been staying on the Costa Blanca to meet friends in Cabo Roig He had planned to travel to Benidorm two days later During his last phone call to his family on December 14 His failure to return home and board his flight prompted his family to fear the worst The arrest of the suspect is a significant development in the case According to sources close to the investigation the missing man’s family had previously indicated that Spanish authorities had questioned and possibly detained a suspect in the days leading up to the discovery of the body and police are exploring the possibility of more arrests as they work to identify all individuals involved The Civil Guard has described the case as ongoing and has not yet released further details about the suspect or the potential motive for the crime which is still awaiting official identification through DNA or fingerprint analysis is set to undergo an autopsy at the Institute of Legal Medicine in Alicante The results are expected to shed light on the exact circumstances surrounding George’s death This tragic development ends weeks of uncertainty for George’s family who had held onto hope of finding him alive While they are relieved that his remains have been located Their focus now shifts to seeking justice for John George as Spanish authorities continue their investigation into his death The Department of Culture of the City of Rojales organizes the XVII edition of the festival “Music without borders” which will take place from November 1 to 29 the Capitol Theatre in Rojales will be the stage for this musical event that has established itself as a cultural benchmark in the province of Alicante This festival combines different musical genres and seeks the union of cultures through music The program includes performances by local and promises a wide variety of styles ranging from classical to contemporary music Programming of the concerts of the “Music without Borders” festival This festival is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a variety of musical styles for a very affordable price Contemporary Jazz concert by La Roffa Project as part of the “Music without Borders” festival cycle The Roffa Project is known for its ability to cross stylistic boundaries exploring the possibilities of contemporary jazz with influences from different musical currents The concert will take place at the Capitol Theater in Rojales on Friday The price of tickets for the concert is 8 euros and can be purchased through the www.servientradas.com and www.agendarojales.com platforms This concert is an excellent opportunity to enjoy a variety of musical styles for a very affordable price Adrián Carratalá is a renowned Spanish illusionist originally from Petrer He is known for his creativity and originality in the world of magic including the title “Fooler” on the American show “Penn & Teller” in 2019 where he managed to fool two of the most prestigious magicians in the world he has been awarded on multiple occasions at the national level standing out as a three-time Spanish champion of magic The renowned Italian band that pays tribute to U2 in the company of Valencia Tribute Orchestra will perform in a concert on December 20 at the Capitol Theater in Rojales U2 is one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005 the internationally renowned tribute band for its faithful interpretation of U2 classics will join 21 musicians from the Valencia Tribute Orchestra an outstanding Spanish symphony orchestra recognized for its interpretations of soundtracks from films they will offer a unique experience where audiences can enjoy great hits such as “One” “Where the Streets Have No Name” “With or Without You” and “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in an unforgettable fusion of rock and symphony Tickets, available from €25, can be purchased at wegow.com “Dreaming Bubbles” is a visual and sensory show that uses soap bubbles as the protagonists It is designed to surprise not only children awakening that sense of wonder that we all carry inside spectators will be able to enjoy a series of fascinating tricks and visual games that revolve around bubbles accompanied by a soundtrack created especially to enhance the experience Music and images work together to activate our imagination offering an experience that allows us to “be children again” for a moment To purchase tickets you can consult directly at the box office of the Capitol Theatre in Rojales or at the online points of sale associated with the event https://entradas360.com CD THADER – 2  UE TAVERNES – 1 It was way back in 2 February when Thader last won a competitive match.  Subsequently following this magnificent victory over Tavernes inside Moi Gomez stadium on a sun-soaked Sunday that unwanted record has now been put to bed the men from Rojales had taken the lead from their very first attack It could so easily have been 2 shortly afterwards had Amin connected with a Precious right-wing delivery High flying Tavares threw everything at the hosts which included 3 corners in quick succession fired fractionally over the visitor’s crossbar again coming close to scoring on 2 occasions Javi headed narrowly wide of the far post on 26 mins needlessly brought down an opponent inside the penalty area Nicolai made light work of converting the spot kick have got worse for Raul Mora´s boys in blue on 65 mins when David made a complete hash of converting an open goal who forced a brave save from keeper Josep from close range Chema went some way to make amends for his earlier blunder There looked to be nothing on when Berni picked up a loose ball on 73 mins Chema again came to his side’s rescue came agonizingly close to adding to his sides lead Tavernes were given one last throw of the dice but thankfully they wasted a glorious chance to level the match There are no Preferente league fixtures next weekend Thader make the long trip north to relegation threatened Denia Checkout CD Thader facebook page for updates on this match and much much more on what´s going on at CD Thader Hercules CF ´B´ – 1  CD Thader  – 1 On a day when Hercules CF first team were preparing to do battle against Real Murcia on the adjoining Rico Perez stadium Thader maintained their unbeaten start to a new Community league season A normally spartan crowd inside Deportiva Antonio Valls was swelled by a large number of Hercules fans who had gathered to watch the first team which was due to kick off over 3 hours later Raul Mora elected to make 3 changes to the side that beat Eldense ´B´ the previous week Chema was forced to make an important save to deny Angel opening the scoring for the hosts but it was quickly chalked off for an infringement Lloyd came to his sides rescue on 25 mins when his 2 firm block tackles thwarted dangerous Hercules assaults on goal Hercules lanky Peter Crouch clone (plus long hair) should have put his team in the driving seat on the half hour mark but he headed wide with the goal at his mercy resulting in a number of players from both sides being shown yellow cards Chema came to his side´s rescue after the break whose firm drive was suitably dealt with by Thader´s agile keeper before heading the rebound wide of a crestfallen Chema A Lloyd speciality long range free kick on the hour mark was tipped away for a corner by the hosts custodian when a high pumped through ball found the unmarked Fran who fired home with conviction from 10 yards It appeared that Serhiy was unfairly bundled over in the hosts penalty area on 82 mins had Hugo not headed the wrong side of Chema´s far post Thader will be playing UD Carcaixent (try pronouncing that if you can!!) inside Moi Gomez stadium Rojales.  Normally it would be an 11.30am ko but there is a possibility that this may change to a later start.  Therefore it is advised to visit CD Thader facebook page for updates on this Easter Week in Rojales is for this town one of the richest exponents of its artistic and cultural heritage in terms of the popular expression of a people through its history and enduring traditions which have been transmitted and consolidated from generation to generation 16 Brotherhoods make up the Rojales Easter Week grouped around the Junta Mayor de Cofradías y Hermandades (Major Board of Brotherhoods and Brotherhoods): “Jesús Triunfante” “Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno” “Santa Crucifixión en el Monte Calvario” “Santísimo Cristo de la Buena Muerte” “San Juan de la Palma y la Dolorosa” the “Cofradía de la Samaritana” and this year a new brotherhood joins the Semana Santa of Rojales full of expressiveness and carried on majestic thrones give reason to exist to a town that commemorates every spring the staging of the Passion Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Declared of Local Tourist Interest) During these days the streets and squares of Rojales Thursday and Good Friday and Easter Sunday solemn processions that from that unique setting of narrow streets and gentle slopes give these days a special content in which tradition and devotion are combined in the same brightness The last few decades have brought a growing active presence of women from Rojal in brotherhoods and processions as well as the incorporation of young people Registration for the 21st Villa de Rojales five and 10 kilometre runs The day’s events also include a 5km Nordic walking category and children’s races Participants who register before September 17 will receive an event t-shirt Registration for the adults’ races costs €9 until August 31 and €10 until closure Registration for the children’s races takes place on the day The children’s events start at 17.00 and the 5km 10km and Nordic races get underway at 19.00 walk or simply enjoy the sports atmosphere “Happy summer and see you at the starting line,” says the town hall and website in this browser for the next time I comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Sign up for the Spanish News Today Editors Roundup Weekly Bulletin and get an email with all the week’s news straight to your inbox (List price   3  months 12 Bulletins)  and thank you for choosing CamposolToday.com to publicise your organisation’s info or event Camposol Today is a website set up by Murcia Today specifically for residents of the urbanisation in Southwest Murcia providing news and information on what’s happening in the local area which is the largest English-speaking expat area in the Region of Murcia When submitting text to be included on Camposol Today please abide by the following guidelines so we can upload your article as swiftly as possible: Send an email to editor@camposoltoday.com or contact@murciatoday.com Attach the information in a Word Document or Google Doc Also attach a photo to illustrate your article originally from Brighton but now living in Rojales and friends and family are worried for her safety The last confirmed sighting of Kelly was at Quesada Fish and Chips she was believed to be heading on foot towards Cerveceria Don Carlos and Kelly has been officially declared a ‘missing person’ they are in constant communication with the police and their ongoing investigation there was a reported sighting of someone who could possibly be Kelly at La Mata   It is hoped that more information will be available soon as everyone is praying for her safe return we are reaching out to the community for any information about Kelly’s whereabouts after her last confirmed sighting Your help could be crucial in bringing her home safely Anyone with new information should email editorial@euroweeklynews.com Vista Lounge Cocktail Bar & V9 Gastrobar Restaurant proudly presents for the first time “Urban vibes Easter Weekender Party”  Friday 3pm-until late / Saturday 3pm- until late A novel idea was played out at the Netherlands training camp at the weekend in front of 2,000 invited fans as the Dutch squad prepared for the Euros wearing the shirts of the clubs where they first launched their football careers the attacking midfielder proudly strode out in a shirt from CD Thader subsequently went viral attracting over half a million hits Xavi started his career at Thader in 2008 prior to moving from the Rojales based outfit to the Barça youth academy two years later Xavi Simons made his professional debut for PSG in February 2021 coming on as a substitute for Julian Draxler in a 1–0 Coupe de France win over Caen Xavi will be hoping to impress during the Euros having spent the season just ended on loan at RB Leipzig where he helped the German outfit to finish 4th in the Bundesliga.  Although he left the municipality when he was very young he still maintains a very strong connection with the town prior to reporting to the Netherlands camp Xavi spent a week in the region training with his former teammates Police have arrested a man allegedly trying to flee Spain after a fellow Briton was stabbed to death A 21-year-old British man, named in reports as Ben Nesbitt, from Merseyside, died after being stabbed in the neck in the town of Rojales, in Alicante, on Thursday.   Spanish police believe the victim was at a house with a 38-year-old British man, who has not been named, and two others when a fight broke out.   The older Brit is suspected of knifing the victim in the neck, which caused a haemorrhage that led to his death.   Nearby residents raised the alarm after seeing the man calling for help and “bleeding profusely” before he sadly collapsed and died.   The Spanish Civil Guard have revealed the 38-year-old suspect was arrested near the Spanish-French border in Girona, about 400 miles north of the murder scene, after a surveillance operation.   Video footage of the arrest shows the handcuffed man being escorted out of a property by three police officers towards a waiting car.   He was arrested on Friday, the day after the murder, but police only reported the update on Wednesday.   The suspect appeared at Torrevieja Court, in Alicante, before being taken into custody.   The Civil Guard said in a statement: “The Civil Guard of Alicante has arrested the suspect of an intentional homicide that occurred on 1 October in Rojales.   “At about 2.30am on 1 October, residents in the town of Rojales raised the alarm because a man called for help while bleeding profusely.   “When they tried to phone to request an ambulance, the man fainted, lost consciousness and collapsed on the sidewalk.   “As [investigators] have been able to verify, the two implicated were meeting with two other people inside a house in the town of Rojales, Alicante.   “During the meeting, an argument broke out between them, the [suspected killer] stabbing the victim in the neck, causing a haemorrhage that led to his death.   “Subsequently, the suspect fled in a vehicle with the intention of leaving the country.” enjoy the natural setting and all the cultural activities of RODEARTE in the Rodeo Caves of Rojales What is your favourite place in Torrevieja CD THADER ROJALES – 1   CFC BENIDORM – 0 …… BY STEVE HIBBERD When Thader beat title favourites Villajoyosa some 6 games ago no one would have thought that they would have gone on a barren run stretching to the start of December courtesy of a much needed late goal by Dani which clinched a nail biting match against CFC Benidorm Following a ladies match between Thader and Elche this preferente league match took centre stage at the artificial pitch in Rojales Benidorm arrived for the game deprived of 3 key players for they were involved in a car crash during the week Thader manager Joaquin Mas was dealt a blow when midfielder Borja injured himself in the warm up Lloyd was suffering with bronchitis on the bench whilst Rafa Gomez was still missing through injury Sergio Galvez was required to make an important save The game went a bit flat until Benidorm’s keeper Hector saved well with his legs from a fierce drive by Cabrera A perfect cross from the left by Calderon set up Jose for a simple tap in it took a majestic save from Sergio to deny Yoel opening the scoring for Benidorm failing to trouble a relieved visiting keeper Hector but Benidorm’s striker lacked composer by shooting wide Next it was Thader full back Vicente who tried his luck from distance would almost certainly have found its way into the back of the net unleashed a glorious drive past a shell shocked keeper to open the scoring The relief was apparent on both Thader fans and players alike Joaquin Mas was then cautioned for dissent before immediately being shown a red card for simply asking why I was gobsmacked at the injustice dished out by an over zealous referee Thader did hang on for a well deserved victory which brings them closer to the pack just outside the relegation zone A visit to Thader 19/20 facebook page is recommended for details on this match and much more info on CD Thader Rojales who was in attendance at the Autumn Book Fayre and Writers Exhibition in Campoverde “It was never really the idea to become an author my grandparents have been publishing books for some years,” said Irene said: “When my grandmother asked my help for her latest book I happily accepted the invitation.” covers the organic and inexpensive household guide for students and how students solve domestic and medical problems “Living in a student’s accommodation in Rotterdam I am often facing some problems which I cannot easily solve,” said Irene so when my grandmother came to me with the idea of an ecological household guide for students like me I was excited,” said Irene said: “My grandmother speaks French and English so together we managed to get everything written in all four languages I learned Spanish when I was living in Mexico for some time with my ex-boyfriend.” who said the biggest benefit of being bilingual is while travelling added: “It is a great passion of mine.” Irene said: “We come from completely different generations “I would tell her all the things I struggle with and she would investigate or know from experience what the solution would be because normally our lives are so different We didn’t agree on everything and had long discussions about some things we always found a solution and it has brought us closer to each other.” Speaking about author grandfather Mark Durman Irene said: “He is a former British Army Officer who had a very high rank at some point during the Cold War with a bit of fiction from his imagination with his latest book ‘Adsum: Mission and Passion’ Irene said: “An example is when I have dinners with friends in my apartment I am always left with candle wax on my table cloth “So I told Danièle and she would know what to do she would spill red wine on her carpet to see if her solution actually worked because it’s all been tested in many different ways!” Irene said: “I went to Barcelona with a friend for a week we pretty much hopped from one restaurant to another but I decided to stay longer in Spain as we are on the brink of having another lockdown in the Netherlands “I took the train to Alicante and stayed with my grandparents in Rojales “Rojales is different this time of year but I enjoyed our dinners by the fire and watching TV from the couch.” Irene a Bachelor in Design from the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam said: “My next plan is to do a Master in fine arts in Rome or Lisbon I am still deciding over which school to go to.” Irene’s biggest influence in her career is Niki de Saint Phalle are just to go wherever life takes me – and to do what interests me at that moment “Right now I am looking for work in the yachting industry until I start my Master,” added Irene Are pleased to announce the dates of their next fantastically funny pantomime – TREASURE ISLAND – as the evenings of 24th and 25th February and a matinee performance on the 26th at The Cardinal Belluga Theatre in San Fulgencia   This amazing pantomime especially written by the famous script writer Ben Crocker where men are played by women and women are played by men? (well it is panto after all) will have you laughing from start to finish A lot of yo ho hoing and mayhem can be expected as Long John Silver aided by some very  ferocious pirates together with some not so ferocious WI lady pirates and a 70 year old parrot called POLLY set off in the good ship Hispanola to find the treasure on Treasure Island will they survive the storm when on board ship There will be romance…… swashbuckling rousing songs…… dance routines by The Crazy Ladies……. Tickets will be priced at €10 for adults and €5 for children and will be available through various outlets to be announced early next year.    Should you wish to save tickets to be collected at the performance you can email voreilly16@googlemail.com to reserve number of tickets and performance date required The Rojales Pantomime Group are very proud to have raised lots of monies over the years they have been performing for various local charities from ticket sales and they hope to be able to raise record takings at this fantastic performance to donate to some worthy charities The National Police have arrested four people who are members of a criminal organization responsible for transporting huge quantities of marijuana from Spain to the United Kingdom The arrests took place in Orihuela Costa and Rojales where 114 kilos of marijuana were seized as it was being loaded onto a truck that the police said was being prepared for transportation to UK have been placed at the disposal of the Investigative Court in Orihuela The police were understood to have been tipped off by members of the public as a result of the close relationship they have built with the neighbourhood and with local business associations They were warned about the suspicion raised by some members of the gang and their regular visits to an industrial estate in Ciudad Quesada This resulted in the investigation of the location at a warehouse in Quesada that served as a logistics centre where several members of the organisation resided a truck with Polish license plates was identified at the warehouse loading numerous pallets into its trailer at which point the agents surprised the men seizing the merchandise and then searching the industrial warehouse This led to them finding 114 vacuum-pressed packages of marijuana The three people at the scene were immediately arrested There followed a search of the home in Villamartin where the members of the gang resided and a large amount of false documentation was seized including details of current accounts in Spanish banks in the name of many false identities together with a frequency jammer and 12 mobile phones The police operation concluded with the arrest of the four men as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of drug trafficking Rojales has already paid tribute to beloved teacher Gratiniano Baches giving him the name of the square on January 26 Now a mural painting is proposed to give concert to the historical person as well as the importance of his vital work his two great passions were teaching and archeology he was one of the great school teachers of Bajo Segura One of his most enduring destinations was the Rojales Public School where he served the first two decades of the 20th century he also developed archaeological and literary works receiving several awards including the Philosophical Literary of the City of Orihuela and the Floral Games of the City of Torrevieja The maestro Gratiniano Baches Romero carried out an important archaeological study on the Roman road as well as the discovery of several column shafts a mosaic and Roman coins in the Cañada de Praes In Murcia capital and in Hoya Gonzalo (Albacete) the Archaeological Museum of Pilar de la Horadada a children’s school in Torrevieja and now in the Plaza de Rojales “We thank Gallud and Marina for providing the façade to make the mural Mural made by the artists Jesus Lorente and Goyo 203,” said a spokesperson from Ayunmiento de Rojales A bogus garden maintenance gang are claiming to represent Jardineria Gerais Rojales in a bid to get work “We are warning the public that there is a group of people – claiming they work with us in Gerais,” said a spokesperson from the Rojales based company “Our team of three people are Hassan and Rachida “These bogus people go knocking door-to-door to offer their services which is usually too low for the services they offer “Unfortunately we don’t know these people “If they knock on your door and you don’t see our red van parked outside “We don’t know what they are capable of or the damage to your gardens or house they could do “A worse scenario is that they could attempt to steal personal belongings from you “As soon as we know the identity of these people we will take legal action “The Civil Guard have been notified and want you to collaborate “If they knock on your door or try to enter your home call the Rojales Police (966 715 129) or the Almoradí Civil Guard (965 700 128) “With your help they will be able to find out who they are and stop them said: “We will support this great little garden centre “They are very nice people and supply a great service and gardening supplies.” RESIDENCIA ROJALES is a family run residential and care home where family is at the heart of their ethos with everyone being treated like one big lovingly cared for family It opened in 1997 by now manager Inge Niessen’s father aunt and Dutch business partner who had care homes in Holland and wanted to offer a sunshine break for the elderly or infirm Nestled in Rojales in a privileged location overlooking the La Marquesa golf course Residencia Rojales is nothing like you would expect from a residential care home it is impeccably clean and welcoming with all the amenities of a modern hotel combined with home comforts movie room and computer room and all residents get weekly sessions with physiotherapists as physical activity and occupational therapy is encouraged to promote the well-being of guests fresh homemade meals with guests able to enjoy social time in the dining room or on one of the outside terraces The benchmark of quality in the provision of care services in Alicante Residencia Rojales has highly qualified staff and all nationalities are welcome with Spanish There is a fully professional medical team in attendance with the doctor offering regular weekly reviews guests can live as independently as they wish in their own space with a lounge bathroom and bedroom areas with a terrace and wifi but with the security and peace of mind of knowing that help is available 24 hours a day when needed with personal alarms issued to every resident They are also open for short term guests and welcome regular residents who spend a few weeks or months of the year at Residencia Rojales ideal for carers who may wish for a week off but do not want to leave their relative alone Whatever the level of care or requirements the team will carry out a full assessment and medical checks to ensure that everyone has the right care needed Inge said: “We welcome people to come and look around our facilities and see for themselves what we are about Maybe someone doesn’t need any care but doesn’t want to live alone or maybe this is the only way they can remain in Spain and be looked after We are like a family and offer everything you could want from assisted living.” tel: 966 715 071 or 669 750 798 (English speaking) Email: info@residenciarojales.es Rojales-raised footballing prodigy Xavi Simons who is currently in Qatar as part of the Netherlands World Cup squad has now had the municipal football ground named after him The full council meeting approved a motion for the artificial grass pitch to be officially called the ‘Campo Municipal de Fútbol Xavi Simons’ Níall FeiritearWed 3 Apr 2024 at 20:34Armed Spanish cops have dramatically arrested an Irishman whom they accuse of being a “dedicated drug trafficker.” The 36-year-old was busted in the Alicante town of Rojales Detectives believe the Irish national was part of a British-led gang that had been sending massive quantities of cannabis – amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros- to Ireland Costa Blanca officers previously arrested three British men and a Romanian woman last May in dramatic armed raids using air support Two kg of cannabis had been discovered in two parcels at Madrid Airport sent from coastal resorts to Ireland The alleged British leader of the crew was identified as a suspect after a delivery was intercepted at the same airport He abandoned a vehicle with 54kg of cannabis inside after a police chase which began when he fled a petrol station fearing he was about to be arrested The Spanish Civil Guard accuse the arrested Irishman of being a driver for the crew That investigation was named Operation Topila which saw the Spaniards smash the gang’s entire operation The Irishman was caught driving a vehicle which was “to provide security for the drugs on their journey,” reportedly Spanish detectives had been monitoring the Irish gangster on CCTV but waited until this year to move against him "From the analysis of cameras located on roads and other evidence the agents of the Pilar de la Horadada Civil Guard managed to discover that the suspect they were pursuing was a 36-year-old man of Irish nationality,” Spanish media reported “The latter was finally located in an establishment in the town of Rojales Agents from the Judicial Police team of the Pilar de la Horadada Civil Guard arrested the Irishman and released an image of him being cuffed whilst walking across a zebra crossing He is seen wearing a grey tracksuit in the picturesque Spanish city Spanish cops said they also discovered the Irish suspect was “facing a judicial accusation for falsifying documents.” weighing scales and mobile phones had been confiscated by police when they busted the Irishman’s alleged gang Cops gave details of the gang leader’s arrest last year when they stated: “In Rivas Vaciamadrid in the Madrid region the suspect thought he was about to be arrested and fled a petrol station after confronting officers in a Civil Guard patrol car there “During his escape he jumped over several access barriers protecting high-speed train tracks and abandoned a vehicle with four suitcases of cannabis.” The newly arrested Irishman was placed at the disposal of the Court of Instruction 3 of Torrevieja He has been subsequently released on bail under strict conditions Please check your inbox to verify your details Now 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Available on Apple and Android devices BRITISH residents now make up more than a third of the populous in Rojales and Quesada 70 per cent of the population from foreign shores According to the National Institute of Statistics It has been suggested the “increase in numbers” could be down to residents registering to vote in the upcoming European elections The British consulate in Alicante and the British Embassy in Madrid have long stressed the importance of all residents registering correctly especially those that now see Spain as their second home This is largely so that British expatriates can benefit from the bilateral agreements between the two countries With more than half of the registered Brits being over 65 the fundamental concern is that of the health system Derek Monks is the councillor for Integration of Residents he told Euro Weekly News that Brexit is having an effect despite not many Brits voting in the local or European elections Originally from Wigan but now a Rojales resident himself he said: “Many British here don’t want a Brexit but most think that it won‘t affect their lives – largely down to the bond between both governments He said the benefit of an increased life expectancy better climate and quality of life is considered a more than worthy compromise Even though it was way back on 19 December 20 when Thader Rojales last played a league match (a superb victory at high flying Murada) they certainly haven’t rested on their laurels Fans will be delighted at the news of 2 impressive recruitments Javier Ferrandez spent a number of seasons at Thader He will therefore be warmly received on his return to a club that many feel is his spiritual home Alberto Sagarzazu played a major part in helping Santa Pola achieve promotion from regional football last season Versatile Alberto is comfortable playing on both sides of the pitch and will be a valuable addition to the defence department The team have been training twice a week via zoom in preparation for when the Preferente league season resumes A brand new impressive electronic scoreboard has also been installed behind the far end of Moi Gomez stadium Club president Lloyd Dummett has announced a new sponsorship deal with physiotherapy and podiatry company GoClinic who will offer season ticket holders exciting discounts Madrid born musician Esteban Fernandez rolled back the years when recalling the time he met Manchester City and former England star Mike Summerbee nicknamed ‘Buzzer’ in the eighties “Mike came into Bredbury Hall Country Hotel in Stockport in the 1980s – on one occasion we sang New York joined City from Swindon in a £35,000 move when signed by Joe Mercer making over 400 appearances for the Blues during 1965-75 completing 716 career games before hanging up his boots in 1979 Summerbee co-owned a menswear business in Manchester with City arch rivals Manchester United star George Best Summerbee starred in the cult film ‘Escape to Victory’ alongside Sylvester Stallone Michael Caine and Brazilian football ace Pelè recalled meeting Nicky also at Bredbury Hall: “I met Nicky a few years later and told him his dad was singing New York He told me his father always like singing.” visited the Etihad Stadium in recent years where a VIP corporate lounge is named after Summerbee