Palma de Mallorca airport horror attack as man stabbed in neck 'for no reason'

A busy airport has descended into panic this evening after a man was stabbed without an apparent motive in front of stunned passengers.

Spanish police have said a man in his 20s was stabbed as he waited for his friend to arrive in Palma de Mallorca via the island's Son Sant Joan airport this evening. The attack - the second to take place on the island in less than a week - is being described as a brutal assault without motive. Police said a man, with a companion, had gone to Son Sant Joan airport to pick up a friend who was flying into the island when he was approached by an individual who started to ask him something about his phone.

But, as he struggled to make out what he was saying, the man suddenly and without warning pulled out a knife and stabbed his victim in the neck.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

According to local reports, the perpetrator was arrested shortly after the shock attack while still inside the airport, while his victim was treated at the scene by an ambulance from SAMU 061. He was stabilised by medics and later transferred to a hospital to receive specialised medical attention.

At the moment, no further details have been provided about his state of health, but his life is not thought to be in danger. The incident caused shock and some panic among other people in the terminal building.

Police have opened an investigation and the man is due to appear before a court tomorrow, with additional reports suggesting attacker and victim were not known to one another. Local people have expressed their concern about the stabbing too and what they see as increasing crime in Mallorca.

One person posted: "The place is becoming a joke. Broad day light at Palma airport. If this isn't a wake up call, i dint know what will be." The distressing incident came following an attempted stabbing last weekend during which a knifeman was shot by police.

Officers with Spain's National Police had shot down an unnamed individual after he allegedly tried to rob a taxi driver at knifepount in the vicinity of Gran Canaria Airport at around 4.50pm on Sunday. The suspect, a man, is believed to have pounced on the officers with the weapon, forcing them to repel the attack by force.

Emergency services within the airport and from the Canary Islands Health Service immediately raced to the scene, The Canary News reported, with police forced to open fire after the man with a "large knife" pounced on an officer who fell down.

A colleague of the targeted officer then shot the knifeman multiple times, with medics later confirming he died at the scene despite their best efforts. The man's body remained on site for more than an hour as forensic and judicial teams documented the scene, with police set to review CCTV as part of a full investigation and judicial review.