THIS is the first photo of the homeless man arrested over a vicious random stabbing at a popular Spanish holiday airport.
The victim was stabbed “a few centimetres” from the carotid artery in his neck in the attack at Majorca’s Palma Airport – used by hundreds of thousands of Brits every year.
SolarpixCarlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo, 45, is formally under investigation for attempted murder[/caption]
SolarpixPerdomo is said to have attacked a traveller at random after losing his mobile phone[/caption]
SolarpixPolice were urgently called to Majorca’s Palma Airport on Tuesday morning after reports of a man being stabbed in the neck[/caption]
The Sun can reveal this picture of the 45-year-old suspect – a Salvadoran man thought to be one of the dozens of homeless people who sleep rough in the airport each night.
It shows Carlos Heriberto Beltran Perdomo being hauled into a police van to be taken to court, where he faces a likely attempted murder charge.
As of Thursday afternoon, Perdomo was under formal investigation but had not been officially charged over the assault.
Police revealed Perdomo had no fixed address after arresting him on Tuesday morning – moments after the stabbing.
They found a weapon in his pocket which they believe was the shank used in the attack.
The airport-sleeper refused to testify in court and was remanded in custody before an investigating judge on Wednesday.
Sources said they believe Perdomo lashed out while high on drugs after his mobile phone disappeared.
They say he became agitated while he was going through his belongings at the airport after getting off a bus.
The victim is Argentinian man who had gone to the airport with a friend who was collecting a relative.
He told police he was approached by a “scruffy” looking man wearing a green shirt and shorts as he returned to the carpark who asked him: “What do you know about my mobile?”
Chilling CCTV images handed to investigators show the alleged attacker walking among crowds of holidaymakers behind the stab victim.
The attack occurred amid reports about a worrying rough sleeping epidemic plaguing Spanish airports.
These concerns led to night-time restrictions being introduced at Madrid’s Barajas Airport to stop around 400 homeless people bedding down there.
Detectives said in their first comments about the Palma airport attack: “The incident happened at 10.35am on Tuesday outside the airport arrivals area next to the car park.
SolarpixHomeless people bed down in filthy corners of Spain’s airports – including Madrid’s here[/caption]
SolarpixBundles of belongings take over this corner of the airport[/caption]
“A young man was stabbed in the neck and suffered a wound a few centimetres from the artery which required several stitches.
“The victim was walking with a friend towards the car park after having gone to meet a relative in arrivals when they were approached by a stranger.
“The suspect asked them about his mobile and then pounced on his victim brandishing a knife which he used to stab him in the neck.
“The young man tried to repel the attack and stop his assailant continuing to stab him, asking for help from security guards who were in the area and managed to restrain the knifeman.”
The alleged aggressor is being represented by a Majorcan based lawyer called Ivan Garcia Lopez.
Mr Lopez confirmed yesterday his client had been remanded in jail and was being investigated on suspicion of attempted murder.
He added: “I am working on trying to secure his release on bail.”
The Sun can today reveal that the arrested man was already known to Spanish police following previous detentions i including one in Ibiza last year.
He is thought to work as a chef in a Majorcan tourist resort, even though he has no fixed address.
A source close to the investigation said: “He was claiming after his arrest his mobile had disappeared after he got off a bus at the airport when he took it out for a moment to search for something in his pocket.
“It looks like the victim was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and happened to be the first person the alleged offender came across and asked about his phone.
“It was completely random. The victim could have been anyone of any nationality.”
Police requested a restraining order for the suspect, banning him from Palma Airport, before he was remanded in custody.
The request was on the basis that millions of holidaymakers use the airport facilities every day and attacks on strangers massively impact tourist security.
APSome 400 people are estimated to sleep in the airport each night in Madrid’s airport[/caption]
SolarpixSome people choose to sleep on the airport’s uncomfortable chairs[/caption]
The suspect has not been formally charged with any crime at this stage – as is normal in Spain where charges are only laid shortly before trial.
But he has been warned he could be jailed for up to ten years if convicted of attempted murder.
Urgent action is being demanded over the homelessness situation at a number of popular Spanish airports, including the ones in Majorca and Malaga.
The problem is said to be causing not only humanitarian issues but safety and health fears too.
At Madrid’s Barajas airport more than 400 people are reportedly sleeping rough, with many going out to work or beg during the day and returning each night.
That airport also had to be fumigated last week to treat an infestation of bedbugs, fleas and cockroaches.