A 19-year-old Irishman has been arrested in Portugal in connection with the stabbing of four Dutch tourists in the resort of Albufeira, police on the Algarve have confirmed.

The incident took place in the early hours of Monday morning after the Irish youngsters apparently became annoyed at the noise the Dutch group, said to number nine, were making. All those involved were aged between 17 and 21.

A friend of the Dutch youths told Dutch media three had been stabbed in the stomach and one in the leg. According to the Portuguese police statement, “the four male victims were assaulted with a bladed weapon, suffering life-threatening injuries which led to them being hospitalised.”

The Dutch embassy in Portugal is offering help to the holidaymakers and their families but has said nothing about the injuries.

Portuguese police say the young man who has been arrested faces charges of attempted murder. The statement did not mention any injuries among the Irish group.

The police have not said if they expect to make further arrests.

According to local website Portugal News, the authorities in Albufeira have just launched a campaign to try and “improve the behaviour” of tourists in the town’s public spaces and have beefed up policing.