Three Russian men have been arrested after they allegedly beat an Italian tourist to death in a Spanish nightclub.

The victim, named as 22-year-old Niccolo Ciatti, was pronounced dead on Sunday, 24 hours after he was punched and kicked unconscious in Gerona, Spain

He was attacked at around 3am on Saturday in a nightclub called Sant Trop in the popular tourist region of Costa Brava.

Three Russian men have been arrested in the Costa Brava region of Spain after horrific footage emerged showing Italian Niccolo Ciatti, 22, being beaten to death in a nightclub

Mr Ciatti, from Scandicci in Tuscany, Italy, was visiting the area on holiday at the time of his death.

Police say the suspects and victim did not know each other, and there was no verbal altercation before the beating started, Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reports.

Officers say the fight could have started over a single push on the dancefloor.

The suspects are Russian citizens from Chechnya, who are thought to have been seeking asylum in Spain at the time of the beating.

Mr Ciatti worked as a fruit seller in his hometown and was on holiday with friends who were also beaten during the attack, but escaped without serious injury.

Shocking footage taken from inside the club shows the moment Mr Ciatti was set upon by three men before being kicked in the head.

Police say the suspects did not know Mr Ciatti, there was no verbal altercation before the fight took place, and the whole incident could have started over a single push

Two men - the victim and one of his friends - are seen lying on the floor as shocked revellers crowd around them.

Three men are seen surrounding them, and one of them kicks Mr Ciatti in the head.

He was rushed to hospital in a serious condition and later died from his injuries.

The three men fled the nightclub but were later arrested by police.

They are set to go on trial in the region, and prosecutors said they will seek the highest penalty possible.

Mr Ciatti’s family have travelled to Spain to make arrangements to have his body returned to his home country.

Investigators are also focusing on whether nightclub owners were abiding by the law amid concerns that no security guards appeared to help Mr Ciatti in the video.

A minute of silence for Mr Ciatti was also held on Monday.