Two British men on holiday in Benidorm have been arrested after allegedly staging a fake kidnapping to get money from relatives. The men, aged 37 and 51, reportedly sent a video showing one threatening the other with a knife and demanding £725 as ransom.

Spanish police treated the situation as a real emergency and deployed major resources, including specialist officers trained in kidnap and extortion cases. However, officers later spotted the two men walking together calmly outside their hotel.

Investigators concluded the incident had been fabricated to raise quick cash and extend their vacation. Both men were arrested on suspicion of simulating a crime and fraud.

Authorities also discovered that one suspect allegedly used a false identity at the hotel, leading to an additional charge. The pair now face possible prison terms and compensation claims for wasting police resources.