National Police officers arrested a 27-year-old Algerian at dawn on Sunday after a street robbery near the Plaza de las Columnas in Palma de Mallorca. The suspect, who had previously faced police attention for other violent offenses in the city, was being released from Spain when the arrest was executed. He has since been brought to court for processing.
The incident occurred around 13:00 on Sunday afternoon. A 44-year-old man walking near the Plaza de las Columnas was approached by a young man who grabbed his arm and demanded, in effect, that the victim surrender everything he had. A struggle ensued, during which the assailant stole the victim’s mobile phone.
In the course of the attack, the robber produced a razor, used it to injure the victim’s hand, and twisted the blade to inflict more damage. The victim attempted to flee and continued to struggle until the thief delivered a blow with a knife to the face. While the knife hovered near the victim’s chest, the thief demanded the wallet. After the wallet, containing about 70 euros, was handed over, the attacker tried to stab the man in the chest, but the victim managed to shield himself and escape by raising his arm.
Nearby, a man who had just finished work hurried to help the injured person. The thief fled the scene as witnesses alerted the authorities.
Patrols from the Citizen Services unit and the National Police’s Operational Response Group (GOR) quickly converged on the area. They first rendered aid to the victim, who was bleeding from a hand wound, and an ambulance arrived to provide medical treatment and transport him to a medical facility. The officers then conducted a rapid search for the suspect.
On a nearby street, officers spotted a partially opened garage door. They approached and found the suspect crouched among several parked cars. The man attempted to flee but was restrained by the officers. In his clothing, police recovered the knife and the recently taken mobile phone.
The suspect was arrested on charges of theft with force. Police confirmed the 27-year-old man’s identity as Algerian and noted a prior pattern of incidents in central Palma, including two burglaries and two violent robberies from roughly a week earlier. He was released after that prior arrest and is now in custody pending further judicial proceedings.
An additional order of removal from Spain was noted in relation to the suspect, who is said to have been involved in disruptions in the country. The investigation continues with the aim of gathering further details and confirming the full sequence of events.