A man was injured in a broad-daylight Christmas Eve shooting in the upmarket resort of Puerto Banus.
The incident sparked panic among visiting holidaymakers and other bystanders alike.
The horrifying event unfolded just after 11am local time (10am GMT) near a chemist by the Cristamar mall, in the famous Costa del Sol holiday hotspot.
Police have not yet confirmed the victim’s nationality but he is being described locally as a German man of Arab origin.
He was rushed to hospital after being hit in the leg by a bullet and taking refuge inside the mall. He was stabilised at the scene before being stretchered away.
Two gunmen are said to have fired several bullets before fleeing the scene in a white getaway car.
The incident sparked panic among last-moment Christmas shoppers and tourists enjoying a sunshine stroll in the port area.
There have so far been no reports of any arrests.
A string of shootings earlier this year in and around Marbella and Puerto Banus led to the early launch in April of the so-called ‘Marbella Plan’ to keep British and Irish tourists safe.
One of the shootings earlier this year included an attack on March 11 on a British-run eatery, La Sala, located near Puerto Banus, which led to the arrests in April of a British man and Irish national described by police as having links to organised crime.
