Dutch Police Arrest Natalee Suspect

Dutch police have detained a man on suspicion of participating in the kidnapping and killing of Natalee Holloway last year in Aruba, the suspect's lawyer said Sunday.

Gerard Spong said his client, whose name was not disclosed, was accused of "assisting in the murder, heavy battery and kidnapping" of Holloway. He also told Dutch national TV broadcaster NOS that the suspect was a croupier at the casino in the hotel where Holloway was staying.

The Mountain Brook, Ala., woman was 18 when she was reported missing in May 2005 during a high school graduation trip to the Dutch Caribbean island with classmates. She was last seen leaving a bar with three young men on May 30.

During the course of the investigation, eight people have been arrested and released for lack of evidence.

It was not clear when the suspect was arrested, but he was questioned Friday and is being held in the city of Utrecht, Spong said.

Utrecht police spokeswoman Danielle Friedman said she could not confirm any arrests in the case.

"If there was an arrest, it was on the orders of the Aruban prosecutors and all information will be transmitted through them," she said.

Spong also told NOS the suspect is a friend of Joran van der Sloot — the last person known to have seen Holloway alive. Van der Sloot says he left Holloway alone on a beach after kissing her.

Authorities arrested two people last month in connection with Holloway's disappearance.

Holloway's parents are attempting to sue Van der Sloot, 18, in a New York court, alleging he imprisoned and sexually assaulted their daughter and caused her disappearance.

Dutch marines, the Aruban Coast Guard, the FBI and hundreds of volunteers have searched the island and coastal areas of Aruba for Holloway.