A young man has been arrested by police in Malaga's El Palo district after stabbing his dog to death at the family home in the city.

According to SUR sources the individual, covered in the animal’s blood, went out into the street after the attack and threatened passers-by with the knife.

Local Police officers quickly arrived on the scene and spoke with the young man’s mother, who explained that her son had killed the dog at home and that he was now out on the street - upset, nervous and armed with a knife.

The officers found the young man in an alley, and his torso and limbs were covered with the animal's blood. They repeatedly demanded that he drop the knife, which had a three-inch blade, which he eventually did and they arrested him.

Reinforcements arrived and National Police officers also attended, accompanying the mother to the room where the animal's dead body was lying on a bed, with a wound on the left side. The woman told officers that her son had psychiatric problems.