Why was he on the streets? The 'prophet of God' who decapitated British woman in Tenerife was a violent character known for attacking passers-by

Tom Worden and Tom Kelly Daily Mail 05/13/2011 18:15

Horror: The man lies on the ground after being tackled by security guards as he ran down the street

The homeless Bulgarian who decapitated a British woman in Tenerife yesterday thought he was 'a prophet of god', it emerged today. Local mayor José Reverón said the 28-year-old man was a bizarre individual who was known to police and had a history of intimidating passers-by on the street for yesterday's horrifying attack.

The unnamed man was reportedly released from a psychiatric hospital in February and had a history of violent behaviour before brutally killing the 62-year-old Briton in a shopping centre in Los Cristianos yesterday.

He was reportedly admitted to the psychiatric unit after knocking a stranger's teeth out on the street.

As Mayor Reverón said the incident was 'the most horrific crime to hit the resort in recent years', questions were raised about why Spanish authorities had allowed the attacker to wander the streets.

Horror: The man lies on the ground after being tackled by security guards as he ran down the street

Wrestled to the ground: The man had been running through the town brandishing the woman's head before being tackled by a motorcyclist

Brave: Witnesses said he was only felled after a biker (centre of picture) flung his helmet at him

Local media named the man under arrest as Deyan Valentinov D, only giving the initial for his surname as is customary in Spanish newspaper reports.

After the attack, the man reportedly ran out into the street covered in blood, carrying his victim's head and telling passers-by: 'This is my treasure'.