Tourists in Puerto Banus, a popular Costa del Sol resort, had to dive for cover when a gunman opened fire at a restaurant in a dramatic incident that unfolded on Tuesday afternoon. Spanish Police are currently hunting at least two individuals, one of whom appeared to have used a sub-machine gun during the shooting.
The terrifying moments leading up to the incident were captured on video, showing two bare-chested men, believed to be holidaymakers, fleeing the scene just before the gunman arrived. The shooter is thought to have exited a car driven by an accomplice before they both made their getaway. Local reports indicated that three gunshots were heard during the incident.
The shooting occurred at around 6 pm near the Cristamar shopping centre, a hub for shops, offices, and restaurants in the heart of Puerto Banus, which attracts numerous tourists from the UK and Ireland during this time of the year.
According to unconfirmed reports, the suspected getaway vehicle used in the shooting may be a BMW, which was later found gutted nearby. Police are investigating whether the vehicle fire was started deliberately and led to a wildfire, which emergency responders were called to extinguish at around 7.30 pm on the same day.
As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident, and the investigation is still ongoing.
This isn’t the first time that the Costa del Sol has witnessed such violence. In February, six British men were detained following attempted murders of three Irishmen near a lake called Turtle Lake, close to Marbella. The crime was attributed to a criminal gang specializing in “settling scores.”
The police are keeping the public informed as the investigation progresses, and residents and tourists in the area are urged to remain vigilant during this time.
