Michael Terrence Riley, 44, was arrested in Merseyside on Friday in connection with the fatal shootings of Scottish gangsters Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr. The alleged gunman, who was planning to flee the UK for a paradise island, was apprehended in Liverpool by Spanish police.

Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were shot dead in a Costa del Sol pub. Spanish police claimed that the suspect, a member of the Daniels gang, was arrested just as he was about to escape to a tax haven. The police chief described the suspect as a professional killer and a member of a rival gang.

The suspect's escape route was carefully planned, involving travel from Spain to Portugal and then to Leeds. Spanish police, with the help of British authorities, tracked him down in Liverpool. The suspect was planning to flee to a paradise island with no extradition treaty.

The investigation began when the suspect opened fire on two individuals sitting at a pub in Fuengirola. One victim was killed instantly, while the other was shot and later succumbed to his injuries. The suspect fled the scene and crossed three borders in less than 15 hours.

The suspect, identified as Riley from Merseyside, was not formally named by Spanish authorities. The police believe the suspect acted alone and are hopeful of making more arrests in the future.

Police Scotland initially stated that the deaths were not linked to an ongoing gang feud. The force emphasized that any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain was unhelpful to the investigations in both countries.

Authorities in Spain have been criticized for their handling of violent criminal gangs behind Costa del Sol gun attacks. However, a government representative insisted that the area is one of the safest places in Europe despite occasional incidents.

The recent pub killings followed the fatal shooting of a British man in Calahonda. The victim, who was shot after a football match, has not been named but was known to be from Liverpool.