The man who stabbed an off-duty Guardia Civil officer in Lanjarón and then promptly collapsed has since died.

The autopsy shows that the 42-year-old man died from a massive heart attack only moments after carrying out the knife attack against the policeman.

The incident took place on Sunday around 17.20h on the Avenida de la Alpujarra while the off-duty policeman was enjoying eating out with work colleagues and family.

Suddenly, a man approached from behind and without uttering a word stabbed the policeman in the stomach.

The victim’s colleagues detained the attacker who had lost consciousness almost immediately. In the meantime, the injured policeman was rushed to hospital to be treated for the wound but was expected to be discharged the following afternoon.

The Mayor of Lanjarón, Eric Escobedo, wished the policeman a prompt recovery and said that the municipality was a peaceful one where this kind of incident has no place.

The Guardia Civil unofficial union, the AUGC, expressed their complete support for the injured man and also expressed their dismay over the death of the assailant.

Update: The assailant suffered from mental-health issues and had reportedly stopped taking his medicine on a regular basis since the death of his mother nearly two years ago.

(News: Lanjaron, Alpujarra, Granada, Andalucia)