Gibraltar 'Torturer' Photos: Briton Held

Spanish police question a British citizen over allegations he set up a website accusing border guards of "killings" and "torture".

The British Overseas Territory is at the centre of a diplomatic row

A British man has been arrested in Madrid accused of posting pictures online of Spanish police officers at the Gibraltar border and encouraging people to demonstrate outside their homes.

He was held this morning after pictures and comments describing law enforcement staff at the frontier in La Linea as "torturers and killers" were posted on a website and shared via social media, the country's Guardia Civil said.
It comes amid heightened tensions at the border between the British Overseas Territory and Spain.

Visitors have complained of stringent checks and long waits at the crossing

The Guardia Civil has reported officers being pelted with stones by motorcyclists held up in hours of delays at the border after stringent checks were introduced during the diplomatic row with Britain and Gibraltar.
The Briton, who lives in Spain, has only been identified by the initials EE and was arrested by Guardia Civil officers from Algeciras, near Gibraltar, at a municipal centre in the capital.
He is being held in custody while items found in a rucksack are analysed, a spokesman said.

Spanish fishermen have accused Gibraltar of blocking them

"The investigation began when agents discovered a web page in which photographs of officers of the Guardia Civil, national police, and the customs agency were published," the spokesman added.
"In this publication they were called 'torturers and killers' and citizens were encouraged to carry out demonstrations against the agents at their homes.
"In addition, these comments were reiterated via different social networks and digital media.

A screen-grabbed image of the website

"Investigators located the IP address of the computer from where the detained person made the commentaries, situating it at a location in Madrid.
"Establishing the chance to detain this person, he was held in a Madrid municipal social centre, with a rucksack seized - containing information that is being analysed."
The Foreign Office said it was aware of the arrest of a British national and is providing consular assistance.