Man arrested after deliberately driving over teenage tourist in the heart of Málaga

A 17-year-old required surgery after a driver allegedly used his car as a weapon following a roadside argument in Plaza de La Merced

A 30-year-old man has been arrested by the Policía Nacional after allegedly running over a teenage tourist in one of Málaga city centre's most recognisable squares, in what investigators believe was a deliberate and premeditated act.

The incident took place in the early hours of Tuesday July 15 in Plaza de La Merced, though full details have only recently come to light following a detailed police investigation.

According to witness accounts, the sequence of events began when the 17-year-old victim, who was on foot after leaving a nearby restaurant, was struck by the suspect's car in what appeared initially to be a minor collision. That first impact sparked an argument between the two men, who had no prior connection to each other.

What followed was considerably more serious. Witnesses told officers that after the altercation, the driver reversed his vehicle, repositioned it deliberately, and drove directly at the teenager. The left-side wheels of the car passed over the victim's leg. The suspect then fled the scene without stopping.
The young tourist was left with serious injuries and required urgent medical attention. He subsequently underwent surgery for a fractured fibula.

With the victim's account on record and statements gathered from multiple witnesses who had seen the incident unfold, investigators from the Central District Police Station in Málaga were able to piece together what had happened. Tracing the vehicle used in the attack proved a painstaking process, but officers eventually identified the suspect and made the arrest.

The man is now in custody, detained on suspicion of assault involving a vehicle.

It's a deeply unsettling incident in a busy, popular part of the city, and one that underlines just how quickly a minor disagreement can escalate into something far more dangerous. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the attack.

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