Arrests after flashmob spreads panic in Spanish town

Five German women who organised a flashmob event that sent dozens of people running in the streets of a Spanish town, apparently fearing there had been a shooting attack, have been arrested.

Agents were called to Platja D'Aro, a north-eastern tourist resort town, following reports of shots, which proved to be false, a police statement said.

Panic spread among people in restaurants and bars when a group of people began running and shouting while pretending to be chasing a famous person, the statement added.

Police later issued social media messages explaining the incident and clarifying there had been no shooting.

In a flashmob, people gather to perform an action, normally to surprise bystanders.