Lamine Yamal (L) with his father Mounir Nasraoui | Photo: AFP
Following a knife attack on the father of young Spanish football sensation Lamine Yamal in Catalonia, four persons have been taken into custody, local police stated to AFP on Thursday.
According to a spokesman for the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Catalan regional police force, the attack happened on Wednesday at 1910 GMT at a car park in the Rocafonda neighbourhood, which is home to Lamine Yamal, in the Catalan town of Mataro, around 30 kilometres from Barcelona.
According to the police, Yamal's father Mounir Nasraoui was stabbed multiple times. He is currently receiving treatment at the Can Ruti hospital; AFP was unable to get in touch for a comment.
"Thanks to everyone for your support, I'm already doing better, a big hug for everyone," wrote Nasraoui in a post on Instagram on Thursday afternoon, AFP reported.
According to a source close to the family Nasraoui is now "out of danger" and "remains under observation" but in a "stable" condition.
When questioned about the incidents and the victim's potential hospital release date, the source declined to comment further. Yamal was seen driving away from the hospital after visiting his father. A fourth individual was placed under arrest around 0900 GMT on Thursday morning, following the arrest of three on Wednesday night who were being questioned at the Mataro police station.
The victim and witnesses must be questioned "as soon as possible" by investigators in order to determine the details of the incident, according to the police.
According to the Spanish daily La Vanguardia, the incident happened during an argument in the street with some men who had approached him while he was out for a stroll with his dog and then came back to assault him. In April 2023, Yamal made his Barcelona debut at the age of 15. He shot to fame the next season and established himself as a vital member of the Catalan giants.
As Spain won the championship for a record-breaking fourth time, the winger, now 17 years old, was instrumental in his country's victory. He also became the youngest football player in competition history to play and score.