Spain: Masked men impersonating police abduct man on highway

Five masked men dressed in black and wearing police vests intercepted a vehicle on the AP-7 highway near Vilanova del Vallès on Saturday afternoon. The attackers, some of whom appeared to be armed, falsely identified themselves as police officers to stop the car and forcibly removed a passenger.

Witnesses reported seeing the victim, who had a bloodied face and was partially undressed, being dragged across the asphalt and pushed into another vehicle. Bystanders contacted emergency services after noticing the suspicious nature of the encounter despite the police markings used by the assailants.

The victim was released several hours later with serious injuries but is reported to be out of life-threatening danger. Investigators from the Mossos d'Esquadra's Criminal Investigation Department (DIC) are looking into the incident. While no ransom has been requested, authorities are investigating the motive as a potential retaliation related to drug trafficking. The case is currently being treated as illegal deprivation of liberty and impersonation of law enforcement.