A 12-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped by five or six of her classmates during a birthday party in Burgos, a historic city in northern Spain. The suspects, all aged 11 or 12, have reportedly been allowed to return to school just a week after being expelled, though they are being kept separate from other pupils to 'avoid stigmatisation,' according to The Sun.
Incident Details
The alleged attack occurred at a public venue in Burgos. The victim's family filed a police report last month, prompting an investigation. Local authorities have handed the case to the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office, as the suspects are below the age of criminal responsibility and cannot be prosecuted.
School Response
The children were initially expelled but later reinstated, with the school separating them from other students. This decision has sparked outrage, with critics arguing it fails to protect the victim and other students.
Victim's Condition
According to Diario de Burgos, the 12-year-old girl has been left emotionally and physically traumatised by the incident.
Other Cases
This case comes amid a series of alleged sexual assaults on teenage girls in Spain. Earlier this month, Spanish police began investigating multiple alleged sexual assaults on a cruise liner. Eight girls, aged as young as 15, from the same school in Basque Country were on a privately-organised trip to Barcelona when the alleged incidents occurred. No arrests have been made, but suspects—adults not part of the girls' group—have been identified. The Basque Government's Security Minister Bingen Zupira confirmed two complaints were received. A Guardia Civil spokesperson stated that officers took statements and an investigation is ongoing, with a local court to determine next steps.
