Two Held After Violent Airbnb Attack in Barcelona's Eixample

Attackers Held Influencer Hostage, Demanded Ransom

The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, arrested two men on Wednesday in connection with a violent assault and attempted kidnapping at an Airbnb in Barcelona’s Eixample district. The victim, a young Egyptian content creator with a following among Arabic-speaking audiences, was staying at the rental on Carrer d'Aribau. Around 5pm, he and a female friend from Luxembourg entered the flat when a group of attackers, between four and five individuals, ambushed them. The assailants stripped, assaulted and filmed the man, then used the footage to extort money and jewellery from his friends and family. One acquaintance, upon receiving the video, ran to a police station in Ciutat Vella to report his friend had been kidnapped and was being beaten while the perpetrators demanded payment. Another associate, based at El Prat airport, also received the images and ransom request.

Rescue Triggered by Friend’s Quick Response

While officers in Ciutat Vella were processing the initial report, another friend of the victim approached the Airbnb. Hearing suspicious noises and seeing unsettling shadows through the windows, he shouted that he was police. He heard the victim cry for help and intercepted a passing Mossos patrol on foot. His warning prompted immediate action. At the sound of the word 'police', the attackers fled across interior courtyards. Before escaping, they locked the door and took the keys. One suspect fell from a height of about 1.5 metres, severely injuring his ankle. Unable to move, he remained behind. A second suspect stayed with him, while the rest escaped toward a building on Carrer de Còrsega.

Two Suspects Detained, One Hospitalised

Police arrested Joel S. C., who stayed with the injured man, identified as Christofer S. S. The latter was taken by ambulance to Hospital Clínic, where he underwent emergency surgery for his injuries and remained under police guard. The apartment was ransacked: the group stole cash, luxury clothing, jewellery, high-value audio equipment and the victim’s mobile phone. Neighbours in the shared courtyard, alarmed by the commotion, recorded video of the suspects jumping between buildings. Some believed the masked and hooded figures, some wearing medical masks, were attempting to squat or rob empty flats. The incident unfolded on the same day as a partial solar eclipse, distracting public attention. The Barcelona violent robbery unit has taken over the investigation. The building on Carrer d'Aribau houses only two permanent residents; the rest are tourist rentals.

One of the victim’s friends ran from the police station shouting that the man had been released, only after which officers connected the earlier report to the unfolding incident.

The suspect who fled the hospital incident in 2021 after assaulting staff over visitor restrictions was unrelated to this case.

Reported by lavanguardia.com, Mayka Navarro, EFE, Por Newsroom Infobae Agregar Infobae en Agrega Infobae a tus medios preferidos en Google, lasexta.com, Guillem Sánchez,Carles Planas Bou, El Periódico, Germán González, Barna Diario, clinicbarcelona.org, Meritxell M. Pauné,Beatriz Pérez.