Benidorm attack: British man accused of drowning attempt on woman and sand suffocation of boy
A 44-year-old British man has been arrested and is facing attempted homicide charges after two violent attacks on a beach in Benidorm.
Arrests and charges
The suspect was taken into custody by Spain’s National Police on Tuesday evening following the assaults on Poniente Beach. He has been charged with attempted homicide, wounding, and threats. The arrest was made after a lifeguard and other sunbathers performed a citizen’s arrest, restraining the man until officers arrived. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was staying at a hotel in the Costa Blanca resort.
The attacks
According to police, the man first approached a 34-year-old Norwegian woman who was swimming with her boyfriend. He is alleged to have grabbed her by the neck and pushed her head under the water. The woman’s boyfriend intervened and managed to rescue her.
Moments later, the suspect is said to have turned his attention to a five-year-old Spanish boy, grabbing him by the neck and forcing his face into the sand, holding him down in an attempt to suffocate him. The boy’s mother rushed to her son’s aid, and other beachgoers joined in to subdue the man until the lifeguard took control. The incidents occurred shortly after 6pm, a time when families and holidaymakers were still present on the sand.
Suspect’s condition and police investigation
The man is now undergoing mental health evaluations at Villajoyosa Hospital, located near Benidorm. He remains under guard and on suicide watch. The hospital is equipped to handle a range of medical needs, and the evaluations are expected to play a key role in determining the next steps in the case.
The National Police have yet to release any official statements about the incident. Investigators are understood to be examining the suspect’s background and the circumstances leading up to the attacks, though no further details have been made public. The prolonged silence from authorities has left questions unanswered about the man’s mental state and whether there was any prior connection to his alleged victims.
