Four people have been arrested after a 21-year-old woman was forced into a van in Malaga on Wednesday evening.

Witnesses reported seeing several people pushing a young woman into a vehicle against her will in the Campanillas area of the city at around 6pm.

A search operation was immediately launched and officers quickly located the van with the woman still inside.

She was taken to hospital for medical assessment, although no details about her condition had been released by Thursday morning.

The four occupants of the van were arrested at the scene and later taken into custody.

Police sources cited by Malaga Hoy said two of those arrested are relatives of the young woman, although investigators are still working to establish exactly what happened and the motive behind the incident.

All four suspects have been placed at the disposal of the courts while enquiries continue.

The incident came just hours after a separate violent attack in Malaga city centre.

A 25-year-old man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed in the neck in Alameda de Colon, one of the city’s busiest central avenues.

Emergency services were called shortly before 8pm after reports that a man had been attacked in the street.

Witnesses told police the alleged attackers fled the scene in two vehicles immediately after the stabbing.

Three men have since been arrested in connection with the attack.

Investigators believe several people may have been involved and enquiries remain ongoing.

The victim was taken to Malaga’s Hospital Clínico for treatment.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.