The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police force, are investigating three kidnappings reported over just more than 15 days, most recently in Barcelona's Sant Martí district early on Monday 21 September. The cases raise public-safety concerns across three locations, including the AP-7 motorway near Montornès del Vallès, while investigators establish whether any are linked.

Video: @mossos / X

According to VilaWeb, citing police sources, a man was forced into a car in Sant Martí at about 02:00 on Monday and was found several hours later in the Girona area.

Three reported incidents since 7 September

  • Gavà, 7 September: A motorcyclist was shot at about 21:00 on Carrer de Pou in the Can Espinós neighbourhood, then put into a car boot, VilaWeb reported. He was later found in Sabadell with a gunshot injury and taken to Parc Taulí Hospital.
  • AP-7 near Montornès del Vallès, 19 September: Five men allegedly dressed as police officers removed a man from a car and forced him into another vehicle. He was later released unharmed in a remote area near where he was taken.
  • Barcelona, 21 September: A man was allegedly forced into a vehicle in Sant Martí and later located in the Girona area.

In the Gavà case, an anonymous caller alerted the 112 emergency service. Mossos officers found the victim's motorcycle on the ground and took it away for examination, VilaWeb said.

Interior Minister Núria Parlon said the investigation into the AP-7 incident was at an early stage. The first indications pointed to an offence connected with drug trafficking, according to VilaWeb's report.

"The first indications pointed to an offence related to drug trafficking," Núria Parlon said of the AP-7 case, according to VilaWeb.

Police are continuing to establish the motives for all three reported kidnappings and to identify those responsible. The report does not state that investigators have confirmed a link between the cases.

Reported by vilaweb.cat, VilaWeb Feed.