A young woman was brutally assaulted for refusing to hug or kiss her attacker in the streets of Malaga, it has been claimed.

The incident took place at around 7.15am on June 6 near Calle Comedias and Calle Nosquera, according to police sources cited by El Periodico.

Two women in their 20s had just left a nightclub when they realised they were being followed by two men of North African origin who they did not know.

The women initially believed the pair were trying to steal their mobile phones, it was reported.

However, one of the men allegedly approached one of the women and repeatedly attempted to hug her and pressure her into kissing him.

When she rejected his advances, the suspect allegedly responded with extreme violence.

According to investigators, he punched and kicked the victim repeatedly, causing her to fall unconscious to the ground.

Police sources say the attack continued while the woman was lying helpless on the floor and was only brought to an end when a passing young man intervened.

The attacker and his companion then fled the scene before emergency services arrived.

Paramedics treated the victim at the scene before transferring her to hospital to assess the extent of her injuries. Her friend also required assistance after suffering an anxiety attack.

Thanks to a witness description of the two men and the direction in which they fled, Policia Nacional arrested the suspect within minutes.

The 32-year-old was detained on suspicion of causing injury and sexual assault. Police have not released further details about his identity.

The incident has sparked outrage in Malaga, with many residents expressing concern over violence against women in the city centre during the early hours of the morning.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.