Attacker stabs German tourists in Mallorca

Police in the Spanish resort island of Mallorca have shot a man with a knife after he attacked a pair of German tourists at a beach bar, authorities say.

The man attacked and slightly injured the two holiday-makers, aged 27 and 46, at around 1.30am local time on Monday at the Ballermann beach bar on the Playa de Palma beach, police said on Monday, confirming media reports.

The 31-year-old later also tried to attack security officers, who shot him in the ankle. He was then taken to hospital.

The man, who is thought to be from Libya, began shouting in Arabic when he was asked to hand over the knife, the Diario de Mallorca newspaper reported, citing security officers.

The police have launched an investigation to establish the exact circumstances of the attack. Terrorism has initially been ruled out.

The German tourists have since been released from hospital.