Police union reports migrant groups accused of raping girls in Ceuta hills

Spain's largest police union, JUPOL, said that groups of undocumented migrants from Morocco and other North African countries have been accused of dragging girls into a wooded area near the local reception centre and sexually assaulting them. The location, known as Jaral, is described as having embankments, secluded recesses and dense vegetation.

"They hide them there and rape them," a JUPOL source was quoted as saying in a previous report.

Reuters has reported similar concerns, citing migrant women who said men attempted to attack girls nightly and followed them to the toilet. One woman reportedly said that girls must stay near police because crossing the area could lead to assault.

As of 15 August, the Guardia Civil confirmed 15 rape cases linked to the July influx, with two suspects arrested. Another police union, SUP, indicated that most of the reported assaults involved minors and occurred in wooded areas.

The National Police said it had recorded 11 complaints from Moroccan minors, stating that both victims and alleged perpetrators were illegal migrants who arrived during the mass entry. Media reports noted that at least four migrant minors received medical treatment for sexual assault and that courts were processing related complaints.

The Ceuta administration and the Ministry of Youth and Children are preparing an emergency plan to relocate approximately 500 migrant girls from the streets to mainland Spain. Six temporary facilities have been opened, with 96 girls staying in a newly opened centre the night before. Officials said more than 350 girls are already in the reception system and expect the total to exceed 800.

Estimates of the total number of minors in Ceuta vary. The Interior Ministry reported identifying over 2,000 underage migrants since 30 July, while the Ceuta government said it was sheltering 1,372, leaving about 800 identified but not in formal protection. Local authorities suggested the actual figure could be under 3,000. NGOs provided higher estimates, with Save the Children reporting roughly 1,500 children in the protection system and another 4,000 outside it.