A British tourist has been stabbed to death outside a nightclub in Spain, with police hunting for the killer saying they have made an arrest.
The victim, 31, was killed outside the Oxygen nightclub in the holiday resort town of Calella, around 30 miles from Barcelona.
It is believed that he was stabbed during a row with another group of foreigners at around 4am this morning.
Spanish news website El Caso had earlier said police were hunting a group of locally-based men it said came from North Africa and the Dominican Republic.
Another person was reportedly injured in the brawl and rushed to hospital. Their condition is not known.
Local police in Calella commented on the case before the arrest to confirm that a stabbing had taken place resulting in one death and one injury.
In their first comments so far the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force which is now leading the ongoing probe, confirmed the detention.
‘Officers from the Mossos d’Esquadra’s Metropolitan North Division’s Region’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating the violent death of a 31-year-old man in Calella.
‘At 4 o’clock in the morning today, the Mossos d’Esquadra received an emergency call about an apparent fight in the town’s Benavente Street.
‘On arrival at the scene, the first Mossos d’Esquadra and local police patrols found an injured person and activated the Medical Emergency System to assist the victim, who eventually died.
‘A few hours later, and as a result of the initial investigation, detectives arrested a man allegedly linked to the violent death.’
The Mossos d’Esquadra spokesman said the investigation into the fatal stabbing outside the nightclub was ongoing and more arrests haven’t been ruled out.
Police are continuing to hunt for others involved in the altercation and have not said whether they believe the arrested man is the killer or not.
They are believed to have been able to identify the men allegedly involved through footage from CCTV cameras.
They said that they are unable to offer any information about the detainee including nationality or age.
Local reports, which police have not confirmed, have described the arrested man as being from the Dominican Republic.
A full police report on the incident will be passed to a court in the nearby town of Arenys de Mar.
The suspect will go before a judge at the duty court in the next 72 hours and is expected to be remanded in custody if an investigating judge agrees there is sufficient evidence pointing to his involvement in the crime.
The police spokesman said: ‘Officers have up to 72 hours from time of arrest to hand suspects over to the courts.
‘During that time detectives can carry out their own questioning where a defence lawyer is present.
‘I can’t say at the moment when the detainee would be taken to court, whether it would be tomorrow or the day after.’
The duty court is understood to have placed a secrecy order over the case to prevent the early stages of the investigation.
The order limits the information police and other public servants are able to release.
Such orders are normal in the early stages of a criminal probe. It was not immediately clear this morning if the arrest would lead to it being lifted although it is unlikely given the fact police have not ruled out further detentions.
Earlier today local police in Calella said: ‘This morning a fight occurred at a nightclub in Capella.
‘The result of the incident was one dead and one injured.
‘The attack was a knife attack. The Mossos d’Esquadra are investigating.’
Detectives have been scouring CCTV footage and speaking to people who were at the club in their hunt for the attackers.
Pictures show an ambulance at the scene and the area cordoned off this morning.
Local reports say there is a ‘significant police presence’ in the area today.
A FCDO Spokesperson said: ‘We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.’