Tegucigalpa, Jan 16 (IANS): Honduran security forces have arrested six people for their suspected role in the December 11, 2015 slaying of national football team player Arnold Peralta.

The five men and one woman were taken into custody as suspects in the Peralta murder case, the Attorney General's Office said in a statement on Friday, reports Efe.

The suspects were nabbed on Thursday in the Caribbean city of La Ceiba, where the soccer star was killed last December 11 in the parking lot of a shopping mall, the AG Office said.

Peralta, 26, was getting in his car when he was assaulted by an unidentified person who shot him in the head, according to a police report.

The AG Office said the purpose of the operation was to find "clues that would help establish the circumstances surrounding the athlete's murder".

In the operation, security forces seized from the suspects a rifle with a telescopic sight, a pistol, bullets, an ammunition clip, mobile phones and several items of police apparel, according to the statement.

Peralta played professionally for Olimpia, the most popular and prize-winning club in Honduras, and for Glasgow Rangers.

He represented Honduras in 26 matches, including the 2012 Olympics.