A man from the Czech Republic has been arrested by Spanish police investigating the discovery of a body thought to be that of missing Belfast man John George.
It comes as the family of Mr George await the results of formal identification through DNA tests.
Mr George vanished on December 14.
After a search operation and appeals by his family, decomposing remains were found under trees on a private property in a rural area of Rojales on Spain’s Costa Blanca.
The 32-year-old arrested, who has not been formally named, was reportedly being investigated by the Spanish Civil Guard, the police force which had been leading the hunt.
A force spokesperson said: “Yesterday morning the Civil Guard discovered the body of a man in Rojales.
“The Territorial Judicial Police team of Pilar de la Horadada has been put in charge of the ongoing investigation.
“All the necessary work is being done at the moment to determine the cause of death and confirm the man’s identity.
John George was reported missing in December
“Pending the full forensic results everything is pointing to it being a missing person whose family reported his disappearance on 21 December 2024.
“Following the discovery of the body, a 32-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of homicide.
“Further information will be provided as soon as more details become available.”
While formal identification is still to take place, it is understood that clothing and tattoos indicate the body is that of Mr George
However, DNA testing will now take place to formally identify the 37-year-old father-of-two’s remains.
Police have up to 72 hours from the time of arrest to hold the suspect before handing him over to an investigating judge for further questioning, although in exceptional cases they can apply for an extension.
That court appearance would take place behind-closed-doors at a court in Torrevieja, a 25-minute drive south of Rojales.
The judge would have to decide whether to remand the detainee in custody or release him on bail.
Relatives, meanwhile, are now preparing to bring his remains back to Northern Ireland for burial.
KRW Law, which is acting for the family, said they hope their “extremely tortuous search process” is over.
They said: “We can confirm the father of Mr George contacted us today shortly after 5pm to confirm Spanish police told him they had recovered his son’s remains.
“Mr Billy George was told that his son’s body was now in a morgue awaiting formal identification.
“The family are both distressed but also relieved at this latest news.
“It brings to an end an extremely tortuous search process for the body.
Billy George
“The family want to thank all who have helped and supported them over the last number of days.
“They now respectfully ask for some privacy to allow them both time and space to engage on the next harrowing stages on what is now a formalised murder investigation.”
Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey expressed condolences to Mr George’s family.
“This is tragic news for John’s loved ones who have been courageously searching for him after he went missing on December 14,” he said today.
“I have been in contact with Billy George, John’s father, throughout this period and as recently as last night where he informed me that a body had been found.
“I now hope John’s body can be returned home to Ireland as quickly as possible to allow his heart-broken family and friends to have a dignified funeral.”
The disappearance of Mr George has dominated news headlines for more than a fortnight.
Before travelling he had told people someone he knew was opening a business in Spain and he was going for the “grand opening”.
But he vanished after last speaking to his father on December 14.
Despite being booked on a flight home on December 18, he never boarded the plane.
His family launched an online appeal for information, saying it was very out of character for him not to phone home. Soon, they began to fear the worst.
His parents, Billy and Sharon, and sisters, Courtney and Caitlin, flew to Spain where they scoured the Alicante region in search of John. The K9 Search and Rescue NI (K9SRNI), a volunteer search and rescue team that uses specialist sniffer dogs, also travelled to Spain to help but returned at the weekend.
The team surveyed an area the size of Tollymore Forest Park in over three days employing drones and search dogs to bolster the effort.
K9 Search and Rescue NI searching for John George in Spain
The PSNI said previously it had been “liaising closely with the missing man’s family and other law enforcement agencies”.
Shortly before news of the body being discovered emerged, Mr George’s brother insisted he would not be leaving Spain until he finds him — and would even give his own life for his sibling’s return.
Darren George joined the hunt on December 23 and has been in Alicante ever since.
“Finding my brother will drive me until I take my last breath,” Darren told this newspaper earlier today, before the body find.
“I would give my own life up to find John. I would give my life up for my mum and dad to lay their son at rest.”
He added: “Every day is a living nightmare. You’re out searching all day and come home with no body found. [It’s like] everywhere you look it’s the same field, the same hill.”
Spanish police believe the father-of-two was shot dead not long after losing contact with his family.
Interpol had become involved with the investigation, which John’s brother Darren hoped would escalate the case and find “answers” they were desperately hoping for.
John and his brother Darren
It had previously been reported that the main suspect had told friends they were also planning to fly to Thailand.
“With Interpol getting involved it’s been escalated in the sense that there will be answers,” Darren said.
“There are rumours that the main suspect is in Thailand. I don’t believe that. I do believe he is in Spain.”
He added that false information appearing online had been misdirecting the family’s search efforts.
On Monday, the Belfast Telegraph revealed a conversation in which a suspect linked to Mr George’s disappearance told the family that he had been taken in the direction of the Torrevieja area. The suspect claimed he left the apartment unharmed on December 14 with another person, but “didn’t make it to Benidorm”.
Darren had vowed not to leave Spain until the family located the body, despite the Spanish police urging them to put their efforts on hold.
He said: “Once we get John’s body we are out of Spain and we’ll never return to Spain.”
News Catch Up: Tuesday 7th January