Algiers launches probe into citizen’s death in Spain

By Abdul Razak bin Abdullah

ALGIERS (AA) - The Algerian authorities on Thursday launched an investigation into the recent death of an Algerian citizen -- under mysterious circumstances -- at a Spanish detention center for undocumented migrants.

“The public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the death of Mohamed Bouderbala at a detention center in southern Spain," Justice Minister Tayeb Louh told reporters.

On Sunday, local media outlets reported the death of Bouderbala, 36, at a detention center for undocumented migrants in Spain’s southern Archidona region.

Bouderbala had been part of a group of migrants who arrived on the Spanish coast by boat late last year.

"We have requested Bouderbala’s body [from the Spanish authorities] so that we might conduct an autopsy with a view to determining the cause of death," Louh said.

On Wednesday, Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel reportedly met with officials at the Spanish embassy in Algiers to discuss the issue.

Details of the meeting, however, were not made available to the public.