Suspect Arrested in Argentina Tourist Murders

Posted August 1st, 2011 at 7:55 pm (UTC-5)
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Authorities in Argentina have arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting deaths last week of two young French women in northern Salta province.

Investigators say the man, who was identified in the news media as 43-year-old Francisco Ariel Tejada, was taken into custody early Monday. He was detained three days after the bodies of 23-year-old Moumni Houria and 29-year-old Cassandre Bouvier were discovered in a tourist area. Authorities say one of the women was shot in the head, while the other had been shot in the back.

News reports say one of the women may have been sexually assaulted. A Salta official has said the women were last seen alive at an area hostel July 16.

French embassy officials have been meeting with Argentine authorities investigating the incident.