A 44-year-old British holidaymaker has been arrested in Benidorm after allegedly attempting to drown a stranger at sea and then assaulting a five-year-old boy on the beach. The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon at Poniente Beach, the resort's largest stretch of sand.
The man reportedly tried to drown a 34-year-old Norwegian woman who was swimming with her boyfriend. He then moved onto the sand, where he seized a five-year-old Spanish boy by the throat and allegedly attempted to suffocate him. The boy's mother and other beachgoers intervened, and a lifeguard subdued the suspect until police arrived.
The suspect, who had been staying at a hotel in the Costa Blanca resort, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, causing bodily harm, and making threats. He was taken to Villajoyosa Hospital for medical treatment and remains under police guard while awaiting a psychiatric assessment. No official statements have been issued by the police forces involved.
