Dad arrested at airport for ‘kidnapping’ daughter and fleeing after custody battle

A father has been arrested in Spain for allegedly kidnapping his two-year-old daughter after ‘losing custody’ of her.

He took the little girl ‘by force’ from a Nottingham children’s home where he threatened staff with a firearm and tied them up, according to police.

He was arrested at an airport in Madrid just before a flight to his homeland of Algeria was about to take off.

The girl was handed over to Spanish social services so she could be returned to the UK.

UK authorities are thought to have prepared a European Arrest Warrant for the 44-year-old dad.

Depending on the outcome of an extradition hearing in Madrid, he would be flown back to the UK to face trial.

Spanish National Police say he had lost custody of his daughter but did not elaborate why.

A spokesman for the force said: ‘Spanish National Police officers have arrested an Algerian who had allegedly snatched his two-year-old daughter from a children’s home in Nottingham in the UK.

‘The father had lost custody of his child but turned up at the centre and took her by force after allegedly threatening staff with a firearm and tying them up.

‘He was held inside a plane which was heading to Oran in Algeria when it made a stopover in Madrid.’

‘The plane was just about to take off when he was arrested.

‘The little girl was in good health and was handed over to social services so they could look after her until she could be returned to the UK.”

The arrest took place last Thursday, the same day as the abduction.

Additional reporting by Gerard Couzens.