Peruvian 'war criminal' found in quiet Devon holiday village

The sleepy holiday town of Tiverton in Devon, near Exmoor (pictured) got a rude awakening this week, when a Peruvian political exile was arrested on suspicion of crimes against humanity and torture, police confirmed yesterday.

Detectives at Exeter police station were yesterday quizzing a 46-year-old man amid claims he was responsible for the torture and slaying of more than 100 people in his native country in the 1980s and 90s.

He was arrested in Devon on suspicion of involvement in state-backed death squads, which targeted leftist guerilla movements, mainly the notorious Shining Path.

Officers from Metropolitan Police's anti-terrorist squad swooped on the address in Tiverton, Devon, and arrested the man, whose name has not yet been released, this week.

Investigating officers searched a house in quiet Devon town, where it is thought the suspect had been living since claiming asylum in this country.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'A 46-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of torture and crimes against humanity and has been detained at Exeter police station to be interviewed.

These matters relate to incidents which occurred in Peru between 1989 and 1993. From initial inquiries, this man may have participated in the murder of numerous individuals during that period.'