Two people were killed in a shooting on the popular seafront promenade in Fuengirola on Saturday night, reigniting concerns over rising violence on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
According to police sources, a group of hooded individuals exited a vehicle and opened fire on a group of people seated at a beachfront bar near number 106 on the Paseo Marítimo Rey de España, close to the Martín Playa chiringuito (beach bar). Two men died at the scene.
Initial investigations suggest the incident may be linked to a possible gang-related feud, potentially involving drug trafficking networks operating in the region. However, authorities have not ruled out other lines of inquiry, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The shooting is the latest in a series of violent episodes that have rattled the southern coastal region, a renowned holiday destination for both Spanish nationals and international tourists. The Costa del Sol, long associated with sun, sea, and nightlife, has increasingly been in the headlines for a rise in gang-related violence.
Local newspaper Málaga Hoy reported that Saturday’s incident fits a troubling pattern that has emerged in recent months. In early May, police arrested three individuals after the sixth shooting in Málaga province in under three weeks. Just days later, yet another shooting brought the total to seven in just 45 days.
Although police insist there is no confirmed link between the individual cases, the frequency of the attacks has sparked alarm among residents and business owners, especially as the peak tourist season approaches.
Tourism professionals in Fuengirola and nearby towns such as Marbella and Torremolinos have expressed concern that continued violence could undermine the region’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.
Local authorities have yet to comment in detail on Saturday’s attack, but they are expected to increase patrols in high-traffic tourist zones and may call for additional resources to address organised crime in the area.
The Costa del Sol has in recent years become a battleground for rival criminal organisations, many of them international, vying for control of lucrative drug trafficking routes through southern Spain.
As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information or footage of the incident to come forward. Meanwhile, both locals and visitors are hoping for swift action to restore calm in one of Spain’s most visited coastal regions.
