Swedish 18-year-old arrested over shooting of surgeon Alexander Aslani at Marbella clinic
Spanish police arrested an 18-year-old Swedish national a day after plastic surgeon Alexander Aslani, 57, was shot dead at the Cirumed Clinic in Marbella. Motive is unconfirmed; a dissatisfied patient and a contract killing are among the lines of inquiry.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Alexander Aslani, a 57-year-old plastic surgeon and founder of the Cirumed Clinic in Marbella, was shot dead inside the clinic on the evening of Wednesday 7 October. Hindustan TimesN “Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Alexander Aslani was gunned down inside his clinic in Marbella, Spain on October 7.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Daily MailR “24 hours after Alexander Aslani, 57, was shot dead.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Spanish police arrested an 18-year-old, reported to be a Swedish national, on Thursday, the day after the killing; a police statement described him as the suspected author of the homicide. Daily MailR “'A man aged 18 has just been arrested as the suspected author of the homicide committed on Wednesday evening in Marbella.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Hindustan TimesN “He was arrested on Thursday, a day after the killing, according to Spanish media reports cited by People.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2According to Spanish media, a masked gunman entered the clinic at about 6pm and shot Aslani several times in the head at close range before fleeing. The Daily Mail adds that this happened in front of customers and that the gunman escaped on a Yamaha maxi-scooter, with an accomplice said to be driving a black Audi. Hindustan TimesN “Police say a masked gunman entered the clinic and allegedly shot Aslani multiple times in the head at close range before fleeing.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Daily MailR “He is said to have sped away from the murder scene on a Yamaha maxi-scooter parked outside with an accomplice driving a black Audi.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Mixed · 2Hindustan Times reports that Aslani's wife, who also worked at the clinic, raised the alarm, and that he was found alive but died of his injuries; his body was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Málaga for an autopsy. The Daily Mail says she is believed to have been at a treatment centre next to the clinic at the time. Hindustan TimesN “Emergency responders found Aslani still alive and attempted life-saving treatment.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Daily MailR “is believed to have been at an aesthetic and anti-ageing treatment centre next to the clinic when he was murdered.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2The motive has not been established. Reported lines of inquiry include a dispute with a dissatisfied patient and a contract killing. Sur reported that a client sent threatening messages hours before the shooting, unhappy with a treatment and demanding a refund. Daily MailR “had sent threatening messages hours before the shooting to express her unhappiness with the result of a treatment she had received and demanded a refund.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Investigators are still trying to establish a motive.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail also cites the regional outlet 101TV as saying detectives were considering a link to the death on the operating table of a wealthy South American patient, with relatives allegedly hiring a hitman. Sources close to Aslani insisted he had never lost a patient in such circumstances. Daily MailR “sources close to the murdered surgeon insisted afterwards he had never lost a patient in those circumstances.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Centre · 1Investigators are questioning the suspect, and El Mundo reports they are examining whether another person helped plan the attack. Hindustan Times says police have announced no charges and have not publicly identified the suspect. Hindustan TimesN “Police have not announced any charges or publicly identified the suspect.”“detectives are examining whether another individual helped plan the attack and assisted the alleged gunman.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Mixed · 2Aslani had more than 200,000 Instagram followers and had treated British TV personalities including Chloe Sims, Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace and Hannah Elizabeth. He was married with two children. He previously worked in London and Bromsgrove, and Cirumed's website says he performed more than 7,000 Brazilian Butt Lift procedures. Daily MailR “worked as a consultant plastic surgeon at London Highgate Hospital between 2007 and 2009.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Hindustan TimesN “Aslani performed more than 7,000 Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedures during 16 years of specialized practice.” Read at Hindustan Times ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail places the killing in a wave of violence on the Costa del Sol, citing shootings and a torture-chamber discovery in recent weeks and more than 100 criminal groups said to operate there. Daily MailR “Costa del Sol has emerged as a global hub for organised crime, with more than 100 mafia groups from around the world said to be operating along the 90-mile stretch of coastline.” Read at Daily Mail ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Explanatory profile ('Who was Dr. Alexander Aslani?') that relays Spanish media reports cautiously and lists theories without endorsing one.
- Emphasis
- Aslani's career, reputation and clientele; the sequence at the clinic; the open motive question.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the getaway vehicles, the wider Costa del Sol gang violence, or the 101TV contract-killing theory.
- For example
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“Among the leading theories are a dispute involving a dissatisfied patient and the possibility of a contract killing.” — Hindustan Times
“Police have not announced any charges or publicly identified the suspect.” — Hindustan Times
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Crime-thriller framing that leads with an 'execution' and a 'teen hitman', then sets the killing against Costa del Sol gang violence.
- Emphasis
- Hitman and revenge-motive speculation, getaway vehicles, celebrity tributes and a long list of recent organised-crime incidents.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not say the victim was found alive, and does not say police have charged no one or not named the suspect.
- Charged language
- “executed”“teen hitman”“masked assassin”“bloodthirsty battle”
- For example
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“The masked assassin stormed into the clinic just east of Marbella town centre and shot his victim several times in the head in front of customers before fleeing on a getaway motorbike.” — Daily Mail
“increasingly bloodthirsty battle for control, and leaving innocent bystanders to pay the price.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Aslani, 57, was shot dead at Cirumed Clinic in Marbella on Wednesday evening.
- An 18-year-old suspect was arrested the following day.
- A masked gunman shot him in the head and fled.
- A complaining patient's threatening messages and a possible contract killing are lines of inquiry.
- He had over 200,000 Instagram followers and treated British TV personalities.
Where accounts differ
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What happened immediately after the shooting
- Centre
- Hindustan Times says his wife raised the alarm and that he was found alive and died later.
- Right
- Daily Mail says he was shot dead in front of customers; his wife is believed to have been at a neighbouring treatment centre.
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Nature of the crime
- Centre
- Says motive is unestablished, with a patient dispute and a contract killing both possible.
- Right
- Presents it as a contract killing by a hired 'teen hitman', with an accomplice.
Alexander Aslani person
The victim is portrayed as a celebrated surgeon and charity volunteer, mourned by patients, celebrities and a local charity; sources close to him reject a patient-death revenge theory.
“sources close to the murdered surgeon insisted afterwards he had never lost a patient in those circumstances.” — Daily Mail
“Spanish media reported that Aslani was recognized as Spain’s best plastic surgeon in 2016.” — Hindustan Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Who was Dr. Alexander Aslani? Celebrity plastic surgeon shot dead inside Marbella clinic
Neutral Profile-style explainer attributing details to Spanish media and stressing that motive and charges are still unconfirmed.
Right1 article
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Alarmist Presents the killing as a contract 'execution' by a 'teen hitman' and places it in a broader backdrop of Costa del Sol gang violence.
- 9 Oct 11:43 First Daily MailR Celebrity plastic surgeon is executed in front of customers in Marbella clinic after 'threats from a disgruntled customer' as Swedish 'teen hitman' is arrested
- 10 Oct 08:45 +21h 3m Hindustan TimesN Who was Dr. Alexander Aslani? Celebrity plastic surgeon shot dead inside Marbella clinic
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.