A man has been arrested on suspicion of killing an 11-year-old boy on a football pitch in Mocejón, central Spain.
The arrest came after an “extensive” two-day search operation that included two raids on homes in the town, Spain’s Civil Police said.
Local media reported that the suspect was a 20-year-old man living in the area.
The victim, identified as Mateo, was reportedly playing with other children when he was attacked by a person with a sharp object on Sunday morning.
The suspect is believed to have fled the scene in a grey Ford Mondeo.
The attack took place at the Ángel Tardío sports centre in Mocejón, at around 10:00 local time (09:00 BST).
RTVE television reported that a government delegation confirmed that the victim was stabbed 10 times.
Dozens of patrols have reportedly been deployed to search for the suspect, with the support of an underwater unit and aerial surveillance.
Mayors and councillors gathered at the entrance to the Toledo Provincial Palace at 12:00 noon (11:00 BST) on Monday to observe a minute of silence for Mateo and a 17-year-old girl shot dead on Saturday in nearby Otero.
Asell Sánchez, a cousin of Mateo’s who is said to be the family’s spokesman, told Spanish media that they did not know who was responsible.
He was quoted as saying: “The boy is a very good boy, very affectionate, he was playing with his friends, someone came, we have no further information. This is a difficult time.”
Mocejón, with a population of about 5,000, has declared three days of official mourning.
Emiliano Garcia-Page, president of the Castilla-La Mancha region, expressed his support for the law enforcement agencies involved in the search.
IN a post on X on MondayHe promised that “the full force of the law will be brought to bear” on the perpetrators, adding: “My condolences go out to Mateo’s family, his friends and the entire city.”
“This is a sad day, when the town is in pain, and if every murder is painful, how much more painful is the murder of an innocent child who was playing soccer with his friends this morning,” Concepción Cedillo, mayor of Mocejón, told reporters on Sunday.
Milagros Tolon, the Spanish government’s representative in the Castilla-La Mancha region, posted on X: “I am deeply saddened to receive the news of the murder of a minor in #Mocejón [Toledo] after being attacked with a sharp object.
“Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased, as well as the people of Mocejón.”
