Irish man (19) arrested in Portugal for attempted murder following stabbing during mass brawl

A 19 year-old Irish man has been arrested in Portugal in connection with the stabbing of four Dutch tourists in the resort of Albufeira, police on the Algarve have confirmed.

The incident took place in the early hours of Monday morning after the Irish youngsters apparently became annoyed at the noise the Dutch group, said to number nine, were making. All those involved were aged between 17 and 21.

A friend of the Dutch youths told Dutch media that three had been stabbed in the stomach and one in the leg.

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In a statement, Portuguese police said four male victims "were assaulted with a bladed weapon, suffering life-threatening injuries which led to them being hospitalised".

The violence flared around 4.30am on Monday in Albufeira’s Praia da Oura area.

The Dutch embassy in Portugal is reportedly offering help to the holidaymakers and their families, but has said nothing about the injuries.

Portuguese police say the young Irish man who has been arrested faces charges of attempted murder. The statement did not mention any injuries among the Irish group, although initial reports had speculated that there were casualties on both sides.

The police have not said if they expect to make further arrests.

According to local website Portugal News, the authorities in Albufeira have just launched a campaign to try and “improve the behaviour” of tourists in the town’s public spaces and have beefed up policing.