Lorraine Williamson
Tensions on the Costa del Sol continue to escalate following a string of violent incidents. This includes a shooting on Tuesday evening in the Cancelada area of Estepona. The gunfire broke out during an eviction operation targeting several occupied properties.
Policia Nacional officers were deployed to the scene around 7.00 pm after reports of shots fired near Calle Carmen Conde. A private eviction firm, known as a ‘desokupa’ company, had been clearing out more than ten occupants from the building when, according to police sources, some of those removed returned and fired multiple rounds.
At least two bullet casings were recovered at the scene. Police confirmed the suspected shooters fled in a vehicle, prompting the launch of an investigation to identify and locate those involved.
Unrelated shootings stoke local fears
Although the incident is not believed to be linked to any others, it comes less than 24 hours after a brutal attack in Calahonda, where a young man, reportedly from Liverpool, was fatally shot in a residential area. Initial investigations suggest the gunmen waited until the victim had finished playing football before opening fire.
The surge in firearm-related violence across the region has put both authorities and residents on high alert. Just days earlier, a man was shot in the leg during a family dispute in Málaga’s Portada Alta neighbourhood. Police arrested five people, one of whom remains in custody.
In Marbella, during the early hours of Good Friday, another man was injured by gunfire near a nightclub on Calle Príncipe Salimam. Witnesses reported that the attacker fled in a car after firing shots during a DJ event.
Spike in shootings raises alarm across the Costa del Sol
Earlier this month, a separate shooting on Calle Gaucín left four people injured—three of them hit by stray bullets. Law enforcement officials say the frequency of such incidents points to a troubling rise in the presence and use of firearms on the streets.
While each of these events appears to be unrelated, the pattern of violence is fuelling unease across local communities. The National Police continue to appeal for information as investigations remain ongoing.
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