A man has been arrested in Elche after allegedly threatening several people with a pistol in different premises along Filet de Fora, according to the city council.

Local Police were alerted on Tuesday afternoon to reports of a man brandishing a firearm. Officers arrived and saw him leaving a nearby driving school. On noticing the police, he reportedly placed the weapon on the ground and approached them. He was quickly restrained.

Police later confirmed the weapon was a Powerline 426 compressed air pistol, which was seized. Witnesses said the suspect had earlier entered a bar and allegedly pointed the gun at a customer’s head, causing significant alarm. Two lorry occupants also told officers he had tried to open their vehicle doors while pointing the pistol.

A staff member at the driving school said the man entered the premises armed and swept the pistol across the room while repeating the phrase “it’s not here” before leaving. He was arrested at the scene, informed of his rights, taken for medical assessment and then transferred to police custody for further investigation.