Three men have been arrested on suspicion of gang-raping a woman aboard a migrant boat attempting to break into Europe last week.
The suspects – alleged 21, 25 and 30 – were taken into custody by Spanish police after a woman reported the attack after reaching the shores of Lanzarote.
The ordeal is said to have occurred on September 16 during a chaotic voyage which left over a dozen people dead.
After the woman reported the rape, a man who travelled on the vessel came forward to officers, saying he also witnessed the alleged attack take place.
The suspected gang rape came on the same day that 65 migrants had to be rescued from a rubber dinghy while making the crossing into Europe.
Three bodies were recovered from the water during the rescue operation, with the vessel’s passengers believed to have been sub-Saharan Africans who had departed from northern Morocco.
After reaching Lanzarote, the rescued migrants claimed that a further 10 people may have drowned during the journey.
They also claimed to have ran out of water after spending around five days on the raft.
The ordeal is said to have occurred on September 16 during a chaotic voyage which left over a dozen people dead
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NGOs who tended to the migrants following their arrival in Spain said the number of those missing could be as high as 14.
It is believed that a number of migrants fell overboard after panic erupted when the Spanish coastguard boats approached the dinghy.
On Wednesday, a National Police spokesman said: “National Police officers in Arrecife have arrested three men aged 21, 25 and 30 as alleged perpetrators of a multiple sexual assault committed against a woman during the crossing of a small boat bound for Lanzarote.
“The incident took place on September 16 at sea, in what are believed to be international waters.
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The suspects – alleged 21, 25 and 30 – were taken into custody by Spanish police after a woman reported the suspected attack
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“After the vessel arrived at the port of Arrecife, the victim informed rescue services that she had been sexually assaulted by several men during the crossing.
“Given her serious state of health, the necessary resources were activated to provide her with initial assistance and she subsequently received specialized care as a victim at police premises.”
The Spanish force confirmed that officers from its Family and Women’s Assistance Unit were spearheading the probe.
The spokesman continued: “A witness from the same vessel was located who stated that he had witnessed the incident.
Spanish authorities have yet to reveal the nationalities of the men suspected of carrying out the alleged horror attack
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“The three detainees have been remanded to prison following their appearance in court.”
Spanish authorities have yet to reveal the nationalities of the men suspected of carrying out the alleged horror attack.
Just weeks ago, more than 80 people died after a canoe carrying migrants was found adrift at sea near the Canary Islands.
The small boat set off in early August with 128 occupants and was rescued on the morning of September 3 with only 45 survivors and five bodies remaining on board.
Survivors, who were brought on to land at the Arguineguín dock, told the Red Cross they left Gambia “with more than one hundred people”.
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