A homeless man was shot in the stomach in Barcelona on Saturday by a police officer after attempting to stab the latter with a knife, according to the city's police department.
The incident occurred in the area of Passeig de Sant Joan, near the intersection with Ausias March street, at around 7 p.m., local time.
The man, identified as homeless, was taken to the hospital in stable condition after being shot twice, one bullet hitting him in the stomach.
"We are investigating an incident that occurred shortly before 7 p.m. on Pg St. Joan. An agent has shot a person to repel an alleged assault", Barcelona's police department tweeted.
Estem investigant un incident ocorregut poc abans de les 19h al Pg St. Joan. Un agent ha disparat una persona per repel·lir una presumpta agressió. pic.twitter.com/rL5zA244Ql
— Guàrdia Urbana Barcelona (@barcelona_GUB) November 21, 2020
Albert Batlle, the deputy mayor for security with the Barcelona City Council, said during a press conference following the incident that the homeless man, 43, is of Hungarian origin.
A local media reporter shared a picture of the knife the man allegedly tried to stab a police officer with.
"The homeless man who has been seriously injured by a gunshot wound @barcelona_GUB he wore this knife half wrapped in cloths as published by @Undercover_Camo from police sources", the tweet reads.
L'home sense sostre que ha estat ferit de gravetat per un tret d'un agent de la @barcelona_GUB duia aquest ganivet mig embolicat amb draps segons ha publicat per @Undercover_Camo de fonts policials. pic.twitter.com/mz0AVkb4h6
— Anna Punsí (@punsix) November 21, 2020
A video allegedly filmed on the scene showed a police presence in the area where the incident occurred.
Police have shot a man in Barcelona who attacked them with a knife #breaking https://t.co/8ghVDwt7CQ
— Nicola Keaney (@NicKeaney) November 21, 2020
According to authorities, an internal investigation has been launched to "clarify the facts" of the incident.
