Gerard Couzens

Abbie Lainton, a 16-year-old cheerleader from Swindon, died after a tourist boat caught fire and exploded off Bayahibe Beach in the Dominican Republic on July 27, 2026. She suffered extensive burns and was treated in intensive care, while two siblings were also injured. All passengers were eventually accounted for, and authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. A GoFundMe appeal was raising money for her family, while her former school and cheerleading club paid tribute to her.

Yaz Juareguy, the wife of Argentina player Valentin Barco, called Jude Bellingham “useless” after posting footage that appeared to show the England midfielder striking Barco following Argentina’s 2-1 World Cup semi-final victory. She later deleted the post amid criticism but continued defending Barco. Additional footage indicated that Bellingham approached Barco after Argentina’s celebrations, clipped him in the back and exchanged heated words with him before teammates and England goalkeeper Dean Henderson intervened. Argentina advanced to the final against Spain, while England were set to face France in the bronze-medal match.

Argentina president Javier Milei backed Argentina players who displayed a “Las Malvinas son Argentina” banner after their World Cup semi-final victory over England, saying they would cover any FIFA fine and that Argentina would pursue its claim to the Falkland Islands diplomatically. The UK government and Falkland Islands Government urged FIFA to investigate the gesture as a breach of rules on political symbols, while Falkland Islands politician Jack Ford called it a clear sovereignty statement. FIFA said its independent Disciplinary Committee was reviewing the match reports and circumstances before deciding on possible action.

A 30‑year‑old British tourist was arrested in Mallorca after allegedly attempting to kiss a Ryanair cabin crew member during a flight from London Stansted. The pilot alerted authorities, and although the steward initially declined to press charges, he later filed a complaint. The suspect had already left the airport but was detained when attempting to board a return flight, brought before a judge, and released on bail pending investigation into the June 29 incident.

British doctor Matthew Foster-Smith was arrested at Quito International Airport in Ecuador under an Interpol Red Notice linked to the alleged murder of Colombian model Natalia Villalba Angarita in Bogotá. Colombian prosecutors allege that he assaulted Villalba, concealed her body in a suitcase and altered the crime scene before fleeing to Ecuador. Foster-Smith denies involvement, claiming he was watching a football match at the time and left Colombia after receiving death threats. Colombian and Ecuadorian authorities, Interpol and Dorset Police collaborated in locating him, with Colombia seeking his transfer for prosecution on aggravated femicide and evidence-concealment charges.

An 88-year-old British holidaymaker known as Ray died in hospital after suffering a head injury during a mugging outside the Victoria Court II apartment complex in Los Cristianos, Tenerife. He reportedly went into cardiac arrest after falling during a brief struggle while with his 79-year-old wife, Judy. Spain’s National Police arrested three men after his death, although it is unclear whether they face homicide charges. Residents and holidaymakers say muggings in the area are increasing and accuse police and the local council of failing to address the problem.

An elderly British man has died after being violently mugged while with his wife at the entrance to an apartment block in Los Cristianos, Tenerife. He reportedly fell during a struggle, suffered cardiac arrest, was revived by emergency responders and later died in hospital. No arrests had been made at the time of reporting, although police were expected to provide an update. Residents and visitors say crime in the area is worsening and accuse police and local authorities of failing to act, citing several recent incidents, including an earlier stabbing of a British tourist in Playa de las Americas.

A three-year-old British boy died after falling into a swimming pool at a rural holiday home in Periana, near Spain’s Costa del Sol, shortly after arriving for a family holiday with his parents. Emergency responders, including medical helicopter personnel, the Civil Guard and local police, attended but could not save him. Police are investigating, with initial indications suggesting the death was a tragic accident and no apparent criminality. Periana’s mayor and town council offered condolences and support to the grieving family.

Former Wolves and Nottingham Forest striker Rafa Mir has been sentenced by Valencia’s Provincial Court of Justice to eight and a half years in prison for violent sexual assault and assault causing injury. The offences reportedly occurred after he met the victim at a nightclub in September 2024. Mir had denied the allegations, while prosecutors sought a ten-and-a-half-year sentence, and he was also ordered to pay more than £55,000 in damages. Footballer Pablo Jara received a separate two-and-a-half-year sentence for another sexual assault.

A British man and woman accepted suspended prison sentences of one year and four months each after admitting to abandoning their three children, aged six months, one year and four, at a hotel in Benalmádena while they went out. A Spanish court barred them from exercising parental authority for two years and from approaching the children for two years, with the prison terms suspended on condition that they commit no further offences. Andalusian social services took guardianship of the children and planned to coordinate with the British consulate over their return to the UK.

A British man aged 41 and woman aged 28 were arrested in Benalmádena, Spain, on suspicion of child abandonment after allegedly leaving their three children, aged four, two and six months, alone in a hotel while they went out. Spanish media reported that the baby tested positive for cocaine, although police have not confirmed that claim. The children were reportedly found in a messy room, with the eldest caring for the younger children, and were placed temporarily in the care of Andalusian social services before undergoing medical checks in Málaga. The couple were expected to appear before a judge, pending confirmation.

A 25-year-old man died after being struck by rocks in the water at secluded Percheles Beach in Mazarrón, Murcia. Two British companions raised the alarm, and locals, Civil Guard officers and police performed CPR after rescuing him from the sea, but a physician pronounced him dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet confirmed his nationality, and an autopsy is expected.

Bars in Magaluf and nearby Palmanova may extend their hours for selected 2026 World Cup matches involving Spain, Germany, England and Scotland, as well as the later knockout matches, but only until 15 minutes after a game ends. Outdoor terraces must mute match audio after midnight, keep screens facing inward and avoid obstructing public spaces, with violations subject to penalties. Benidorm is also preparing for a major influx of British football tourists by reinforcing local and national police patrols, while flight capacity to Alicante is expected to rise by 16.4% during the tournament’s opening phase.

Spanish police have arrested two UK nationals in connection with the November 2024 attempted execution-style killing of Aaron, a 27-year-old British man in Santiago de la Ribera near La Manga. Aaron was shot multiple times outside his home and left paralysed from the neck down. The suspected gunman was detained while attempting to fly from Alicante to Edinburgh, while a woman was arrested at the same airport while entering Spain. Investigators say both suspects were members of a violent criminal group from the UK who travelled to the Murcia coast to kill the victim. A burned-out getaway car containing a silenced pistol, ammunition, a balaclava and gloves was recovered, with UK police assisting the Civil Guard.

A 44-year-old British holidaymaker was arrested in Benidorm after allegedly trying to drown a 34-year-old Norwegian woman at Poniente Beach and then attacking a five-year-old Spanish boy by the throat. A lifeguard restrained him until police arrived. The man was reportedly hospitalized under police guard while awaiting a psychiatric assessment and faces suspicion of attempted murder, causing bodily harm and making threats; authorities had not yet issued an official statement.

A wheelchair user travelling from Lanzarote to Bristol missed her Ryanair flight after reportedly being left in the accessible lounge at Terminal 1 while waiting for assistance to the gate. She spent the night on the island and flew the next day. Mitie, which provides passenger assistance at the airport, attributed the incident to a coordination error, apologised and arranged accommodation and a replacement flight. Aena said it was investigating, amid wider reports of staffing shortages, heavy workloads and previous failures involving assisted passengers at Lanzarote Airport.

Benidorm will deploy additional local and national police, including officers from the Alicante UIP public-order unit, during the 2026 World Cup from June 11 to July 19. The measures are intended to manage an expected influx of mainly British fans watching matches in bars and other venues. Airline capacity to Alicante is projected to rise 16.4% during the tournament’s first phase, while bookings to Benidorm have reportedly increased sharply as fans seek cheaper alternatives to attending matches in the United States.

A 37-year-old British man died after an alleged early-morning clash in the Las Veronicas nightlife area of Playa de las Americas, Tenerife. A 23-year-old British man has been remanded in custody without bail while the Court of First Instance of Arona investigates him for homicide. He has not been formally charged, and a secrecy order is reportedly restricting information about the ongoing case.

Rally co-driver Samuel Ortiz, 30, died when a Honda Civic carrying him and his brother Jordi, 33, left the course and struck a barrier during the Rallye de La Ceramica in Castellon province, Spain. Jordi was freed from the wreckage and taken to hospital in critical condition. Organisers suspended the event, while firefighters, officials and motorsport groups paid tribute to Samuel and expressed support for Jordi's recovery.

Wendy Iles, a 68-year-old woman from Wiltshire, has been found safe in Spain after disappearing while travelling by campervan toward France to catch a ferry to the United Kingdom. Her daughter Louise said Iles had appeared confused and believed the campervan had been stolen; the vehicle was later located with a suspected tyre blowout. Iles’s dog Beau, a springer spaniel, remains missing. Relatives alerted Interpol and British and Spanish police after Iles missed her ferry and other travel arrangements, while Louise criticized authorities over delays in tracking her movements and initiating a search.

A search is underway for British woman Wendy Iles, who disappeared in the Valencia area while travelling from Spain toward Caen to catch a ferry to Britain with her Springer Spaniel. Her daughter Louise says Iles appeared confused, reported that her campervan had been stolen, failed to reach a recommended hotel and has not been contactable since her phone was switched off. Relatives have alerted Spanish and UK police and Interpol, while Louise has appealed for information and criticized delays in police and financial-tracking procedures.

Harry James George Saunders, 35, has become a fugitive after allegedly breaching bail while awaiting trial in Spain for the manslaughter and wounding of bouncer Jose Rafael Pisani Prado at Olivia's La Cala restaurant near Fuengirola in April 2023. Prosecutors allege Saunders punched Prado during a struggle, causing fatal head injuries, and are seeking a four-year prison sentence and €227,000 in compensation for the victim's family. Prado's widow, Romina Acuna, died months later after falling from a fifth-floor apartment. The restaurant's owner, Elliott Wright, temporarily closed the venue after Prado's death and has since decided to keep it open.

Marine Rousseau and her partner Marc Ballabriga, from Colmar, France, appeared in a Portuguese court after allegedly blindfolding Rousseau’s two young children during a forest game near Alcácer do Sal and abandoning them. The children were found crying and alone on a rural road and placed in temporary care. Police later located the couple at a café near Lisbon, where they were arrested. Rousseau reportedly sang opera while being escorted into court, while Ballabriga shouted declarations of love and allegedly behaved violently in custody. Both face charges of child abandonment and domestic violence, with a judge expected to decide whether they should be remanded in custody.

Jonathan Andic, eldest son of Mango founder Isak Andic, was arrested in Catalonia nearly 18 months after his father fell to his death during a hike near Barcelona. The death was initially treated as an accident but the investigation was reopened and later examined as a possible homicide after forensic findings reportedly conflicted with Jonathan's account. He was the only eyewitness, and police reportedly questioned inconsistencies in his statements and noted that he had visited the trail days earlier. The Andic family says it is confident of Jonathan's innocence, while a court-ordered gag order limits public comment. Isak Andic founded Mango in Barcelona in 1984 and built it into a major international retailer.

Jonathan Andic, the 45-year-old son of Mango founder Isak Andic, was arrested in Barcelona on suspicion of homicide in connection with his father's death in a mountain fall on December 14, 2024. Isak Andic died while visiting the Collbato Caves in the Montserrat mountains with Jonathan, who has consistently said the death was accidental and maintained his innocence. The Mossos d'Esquadra confirmed the detention, while a secrecy order limits information about the investigation. Isak Andic founded Mango with his brother Nahman in 1984 and had an estimated fortune of $4.5 billion.