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The Small Twins: Cyprus murder-for-hire targets and the allegations linking the Liverpool brothers to Steven Gray's killing

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POLITIS TEAM

Jamie and Aaron Small, twin brothers from Liverpool, have emerged at the centre of an extraordinary international criminal investigation after being identified as the alleged targets of a murder-for-hire plot in Cyprus.

Their names have also been linked online to the unsolved killing of fellow Bootle man Steven Gray in Spain. But what is established fact, what has been alleged, and who exactly are the Small twins?

The names Jamie Small and Aaron Small have suddenly become significant in Cyprus after the brothers were identified in September 2026 as the alleged targets of an international murder plot.

According to reporting published in Cyprus and the UK, the twins had been staying in the Famagusta area during the summer before leaving the island. Eight people from Ireland, Norway and Sweden have been arrested in connection with the alleged plot, which investigators say involved an undercover Danish police officer posing as a potential contract killer.

The emergence of the twins' names has also revived a series of allegations published on social media by the account Art Hostage. Posts attributed to that account have alleged that Jamie and Aaron Small were involved in organised violence in Spain and that they were the two gunmen responsible for the April 2025 killing of 32-year-old Steven Gray in Sitio de Calahonda on Spain's Costa del Sol.

Those claims, however, have not been established by a court and should not be presented as fact.

Who are Jamie and Aaron Small?

Jamie and Aaron Small are British twin brothers from the Liverpool area who have a documented background in combat sports.

Records from the MMA circuit show both brothers competing in Liverpool-area events.

Aaron Small fought in the Cage Warriors Academy North West circuit. In September 2019 he defeated Jacoub Kassouri by unanimous decision. He also recorded a submission victory over Alex Budoiu in an earlier Cage Warriors Academy event. 

Jamie Small also competed in the same circuit. In September 2019 he fought Magdi Gereev in a Cage Warriors Academy North West bout, losing by unanimous decision. He subsequently appeared in other MMA events, including a bout against Kyle Wolfenden. 

Why are the Small twins in Cyprus?

The brothers were reportedly in Cyprus during the summer of 2026 and were staying in the Famagusta district.

British and Cypriot reporting now says they were the alleged intended victims of a planned assassination.

The investigation reportedly began after an individual using the name "Sponge Jobb" placed an advertisement on the encrypted messaging platform Signal seeking somebody to carry out a killing in the European Union.

A Danish police officer responded while posing as a prospective contract killer. According to the investigation, the alleged organiser subsequently described a job in Cyprus involving two twins and supplied photographs of Jamie and Aaron Small.

The reported fee was approximately $60,000 in cryptocurrency, although other reporting has given the equivalent value in Danish kroner. 

The undercover operation eventually resulted in arrests in Cyprus.

Eight arrests

The Cyprus investigation has so far resulted in eight arrests involving suspects from several European countries.

According to current reporting, the operation involved Cypriot, Danish and Swedish authorities together with Europol. A Danish undercover officer travelled to Cyprus and was monitored by the Cyprus Police Special Branch. 

An Irish suspect and two Norwegian nationals were among the first people arrested. Five Swedish nationals were subsequently arrested after Swedish authorities alerted Cyprus to a suspected individual travelling to the island. 

Reportedly recovered items included a handgun, masks, disposable gloves, mobile phones, batons and cash. The suspects deny the allegations and have reportedly claimed they were in Cyprus for legitimate reasons. 

The alleged motive for targeting the Small brothers has not been established publicly.

The Steven Gray connection

This is where the story becomes considerably more complicated.

Steven Gray, 32, from Bootle, was shot dead in Sitio de Calahonda on Spain's Costa del Sol on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025.

Gray had been playing football with friends at the Finca Naundrup complex. As he walked towards his car, two masked gunmen allegedly approached from behind and shot him seven times.

The attackers escaped in a foreign-plated Cupra. The vehicle was subsequently abandoned and set alight. Two firearms were reportedly recovered from the burned-out vehicle and were believed to be the murder weapons.

No arrests have been made in the Gray case, which remains subject to a Spanish court secrecy order.

At his subsequent inquest in Bootle, the coroner recorded the death as unlawful killing. Gray's family has said he had no involvement in gang culture and had moved to Spain partly to leave that environment behind.

What does Art Hostage allege?

The social-media account Art Hostage has published a series of posts making allegations about the Small twins dated in 2025.

 

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#CRIME #ENGLAND

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