A police officer has died in Spain after he was allegedly pushed under the path of an oncoming train.

Police say officer Francisco Javier Ortega, 28, was asking a group of passengers on a Madrid platform on Saturday for identification papers when a scuffle broke out.

The altercation was between Mr Ortega and a man identified by Spanish newspaper El Pais as 28-year-old Yode Ali Raba, who is alleged to be an illegal immigrant from the Ivory Coast.

Horrifying mobile phone footage, which has been posted online, shows Mr Ortega being dragged onto the tracks just as a train is passing through the station.

The screams of horrified onlookers can be heard as the police officer and Raba are both hit by the train.

Raba survived the impact of the train and is being treated in hospital for head injuries as police conduct their investigation.

The Director General of Police in Spain, Ignacio Cosidó has described Mr Ortega's death as 'murder'.

“It is clear that there is intent on taking the agent to the railway tracks and throwing him under when a train was approaching,” he said.