International manhunt under way for British man with criminal record for violence after girlfriend stabbed in Mijas

Spain's Guardia Civil police force has launched an international search for the man accused of stabbing his girlfriend, who fell from the car in which they were travelling in Mijas earlier this week. Officers are not clear whether the victim jumped out of the vehicle to flee the attack or whether she was thrown out.

The Spanish government delegate in Andalucía, Pedro Fernández, has confirmed that the search is under way for the alleged perpetrator of the stabbing. SUR has also learnt that the British man, aged around 35, has a violent history which includes an attempted murder in the UK.

Fernández said that the individual has been involved in "significant criminal activity" and he was imprisoned for a long period of time in the United Kingdom. "We are talking about a person who has a significant level and risk in terms of flight because he may have the necessary infrastructure to be able to flee Spain," Fernández said.

The stabbing incident happened at the beginning of the week. The couple, when getting into the car, began to argue, at which point the young woman was stabbed in the thigh and fell from the vehicle. Fernández said that the victim suffered serious injuries mainly due to the fall from the moving vehicle.

The government delegate said that the victim is no longer in Spain, but has travelled to the UK to be cared for by her relatives. Following the incident the young woman was guarded at all times by the Guardia Civil until she left Spain.