British woman, 64, arrested on suspicion of killing UK friend with vacuum-cleaner cable in Benidorm

A British woman, 64, was arrested on suspicion of murdering another British woman during a holiday in Benidorm, Spain, authorities said Friday. The two women, both from the United Kingdom, were staying at an apartment in the resort when an argument escalated into violence. They had been in Benidorm for several days, according to local officials.

Police were called to the apartment where the dispute took place, and officers arrived to find the 66-year-old woman dead. Local reports said the victim was found with a vacuum-cleaner cable around her neck, leading investigators to treat the case as a homicide. Neighbors reported hearing raised voices before quiet returned to the building.

The suspect, a 64-year-old woman who has not been named publicly, is understood to have confessed after being taken away from the scene by officers, according to a National Police spokesman. The spokesman said the arrest had been made and that the investigation is ongoing and that authorities cannot release further details at this stage. The woman's name has not been released, and authorities said the inquiry would continue under standard procedures.

A preliminary post-mortem has confirmed that the death was caused by strangulation. It was not yet clear when the suspect would appear before a judge.

Benidorm is a popular resort city on Spain's Costa Blanca that attracts many visitors from the United Kingdom. The case remains under investigation, and officials said they would release more information as it becomes available.