A BRITISH tourist was stabbed while trying to fight off thieves who snatched his bag in Barcelona, police said.
The mugging was caught on camera last night as the victim bravely attempted to recover his belongings.
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The British man can be overheard shouting: “Where’s my s***, where’s my necklace, where the f***is it” as he wrestles with one of the bandits.
Another Brit filming the drama on his mobile phone yells to one of the assailants: “You’re on camera bro, you want to give it back mate.”
The thief managed to get away after appearing to put a blade to his victim’s face and making off with a stolen bum bag.
Three accomplices sprinted after him following the mugging in centre square called Plaza Sant Josep Oriol.
The four suspects were all arrested shortly afterwards in the same area.
Today the Briton was recovering in hospital.
A spokesman for the regional Mossos d’Esquadra police said: “Four men have been arrested following a robbery in Plaza Sant Josep Oriol yesterday evening around 8pm.
“Our officers made two of the arrests and the other two arrests were carried out by the Guardia Urbana who are employed by City Hall.
“I can confirm the victim was taken to hospital with stab wounds but his injuries were not serious.
“His stolen belongings were recovered when the men were arrested. They are in custody and will now go before a judge.”
The spokesman could offer no details about the suspects’ ages or nationalities.
Two other stabbings hit Barcelona last night, one in Raval and one near the Sagrada Familia.
In June a wealthy American tourist was mugged for his designer outside his hotel in the Catalan capital.
And last month a thief was filmed stealing on a Barcelona beach – as a holidaymaker interviewed on Spanish TV raved about the city’s great food and beautiful weather.
The crook appeared in the background as the tourist replied: “I love Barcelona” after the reporter asked him what he thought about the Catalan capital for a live broadcast.
The interview continued uninterrupted as the criminal bent down to pick up a rucksack left unattended under a pair of trousers and walked away while the passionate foreigner continued: “The beach is very beautiful, the water is clean and cold.”
Seconds later the bewildered owner of the rucksack that had been taken came into shot, shouting: “Someone’s stolen my stuff, did anyone see him?” and nearly bumped into the camera crew as he walked around yelling: “My bag” as a bikini-clad woman carrying a paddle board looked on.
The theft victim’s show of distress coincided with the unabashed tourist, who was obviously oblivious to the drama playing itself out behind him, grinning as he said: “What I love as well is the food” before patting his stomach and continuing “My belly!!”
The footage, broadcast on Spanish state-owned channel TVE at popular Barcelona city beach Sant Miquel, went viral as police revealed they had tracked down and identified the suspect.
