Three British tourists have been accused of carrying out a late-night vandalism spree in Malaga, including slashing the tyres of parked cars with knives and hurling glass bottles through the streets.

The incident unfolded in the city’s La Trinidad neighbourhood at around 3am on Sunday, August 23.

A local resident claimed the trio began making large amounts of noise before the situation escalated into acts of vandalism.

According to her account to local newspaper Malaga Hoy, two of the tourists were walking through the streets carrying knives and using them to slash the tyres of parked vehicles.

The group is also accused of throwing beer and glass bottles and interfering with equipment belonging to the nearby Malaga Metro construction works.

Images show one of those involved picking up a large red construction barrier, lifting it above his head and apparently striking himself with it several times before throwing it onto the road.

The resident claimed the disturbance continued for between one and two hours before police eventually arrived.

‘It was unbearable,’ she said.

She claimed residents in the area have been repeatedly subjected to problems involving tourists and said some properties were allegedly being operated as holiday rentals without the required tourist licences.

‘We’re always dealing with something,’ she added, claiming residents now ‘live in fear’.

Residents hit out at ‘drunken tourism’

The incident has reignited complaints about antisocial behaviour associated with tourism in parts of central Malaga.

Carlos Carrera, president of the Centro Antiguo residents’ association, said incidents of this nature were “not uncommon”.

He recalled a notorious episode in Plaza de Uncibay in which a group of tourists threw one of their friends into an underground rubbish container.

When they were unable to get him back out, police, firefighters and municipal cleaning workers had to be called to rescue him.

Carrera also cited a more recent incident close to Atarazanas Market, where a group of foreigners were allegedly seen drinking, jumping and walking across the roof of a building containing tourist accommodation.

He said late-night fights outside nightclubs, excessive noise and damage to residential properties have become familiar complaints among people living in central Malaga.

The woman who reported Sunday’s incident also recalled another serious episode at her own building on June 9.

She said a group of tourists entered the building’s rooftop swimming pool after its 10pm closing time and held an unauthorised party.

The gathering ended when one of those attending fell from the rooftop, according to her account.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.