Briton accused of Costa del Sol bank raids

A MIDDLE-aged British man has been arrested in Spain on suspicion of a string of armed bank robberies across the Costa del Sol and elsewhere, police said.

The 49-year-old, who has not been named, is thought to be behind 15 hold-ups in the provinces of Malaga and Alicante, accompanied by a 31-year-old Russian woman.

Spanish police believe the pair could have stolen about €115,000 (98,300) in the raids.

They are suspected of working together to carry out the crimes, a police spokesman said. Detectives believe their modus operandi involved the woman first ringing the bell of the bank and when a member of staff opened the door she would be flanked by the man, who was armed with a pistol. He would then enter and rob the bank.