A BRITISH man has been hospitalised in Valencia, Spain, after being stabbed with a screwdriver when he refused to give a cigarette to a passerby.
The attack took place in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento in Valencia’s city centre, just before 4am on Saturday October 25.
The victim suffered a punctured lung in the alleged assault.
Following the ordeal, he was identified by police as Scottish.
Valencia Policia Local has arrested a 45-year-old man, who is believed to have a criminal record.
The suspected attacker was still at the scene when police arrived.
He was immediately detained straight after.
Two police officers rushed to the scene after a woman’s screams were heard by a nearby police patrol.
The woman, from Uruguay, had been accompanying the Scottish man when the alleged screwdriver assault took place.
She told police the victim had been attacked in response to refusing to give the suspected assailant a cigarette.
The victim was described as a ‘young man’ and has since been taken to Doctor Peset University Hospital in Valencia.
His condition is currently unknown.
A Basic Life Support ambulance also attended to assist at the scene.
The suspected attacker was described as having ‘disturbed mental faculties’ by local Valencian newspaper, Las Provincias.
The incident follows further tourist-related clashes across both Valencia and Spain in recent months.
Earlier this month, a group of locals were heard screaming “go home” at Dutch tourists participating in a cycling tour through Valencia.
The Spaniards were videoed shouting “fuera, fuera” at the cyclists on Calle Danzas in Valencia’s Old Town.
The ordeal also involved pushing and shoving, with bikes knocked to the ground as the two parties scuffled.
The Dutch tourists were also heard shouting “f**k you” to the locals, while shaking their fists in the air as they attempted to leave.
Valencia-based organisation, translated to “Neighbourhood in Danger of Extinction” said the incident unfolded because the cyclists were trying to travel through an event taking place.
Tourists have been sprayed with water pistols as mass anti-tourism protests across Spain increase.
Demonstrations have also taken place in cities including San Sebastian, Granada, Barcelona and Palma.
