Maritime Rescue intercepted a migrant boat near Formentera as Spanish police investigate alleged sexual assault involving minors
Officials said Maritime Rescue intercepted 29 migrants on Friday afternoon about 43 miles south of Formentera, an island in the Balearics.
The girls were immediately taken to Can Misses Hospital in Ibiza, where medical staff activated the protocol for sexual violence cases, local media reported.
Police sources said the minors were undergoing treatment and tests, while their official statements were recorded on Saturday.
According to investigators, the victims accused two men travelling with them of sexual assault during the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
Police investigation into migrant boat assault
Authorities confirmed the suspects were also on board and remain under investigation, though no formal charges have been announced yet.
A police spokesperson told Periódico de Ibiza that a team of seven security agents and a gynaecologist were mobilised under Spain’s sexual assault protocol.
The Balearic Civil Guard said the case remains open and further details will be released once interviews with all passengers are completed.
Hospital officials declined to comment directly on the minors’ condition, citing patient confidentiality, but confirmed treatment was being administered.
Recent sexual assault cases on migrant routes
The latest allegations follow reports of severe abuse during Mediterranean crossings, including cases where migrants were beaten or thrown overboard.
In late 2024, a young Algerian woman reported to the Civil Guard that she had been raped by the skipper of a migrant boat bound for Formentera.
A Spanish judge ordered the detention of the alleged aggressor and another crew member, accusing one of rape and the other of failing to provide assistance.
The incidents underscore ongoing risks faced by migrants attempting to reach Europe in small, overcrowded vessels.
Balearic Islands dispute migrant transfers
The case comes as the Balearic government publicly opposes Spain’s directive to relocate migrant minors from the Canary Islands.
Antoni Costa, the Balearic vice-president, said Madrid’s order “comes at the worst possible time” as arrivals surge across the Mediterranean.
He said: “It is incomprehensible and unacceptable that, seeing the situation that is coming to us, we are abandoned by the Government of Spain.”
Regional authorities said the archipelago is already caring for more than 700 minors, exceeding the official capacity by 300.
Strain on reception system in Ibiza and Formentera
According to government statistics, 126 boats carrying 2,094 migrants have landed in Ibiza and Formentera in the first nine months of 2025.
Of these, 108 boats carrying 1,829 migrants reached Formentera, while 18 boats carrying 265 migrants arrived in Ibiza.
The Balearic government has argued that Spain’s allocation of 406 minors is “opaque and arbitrary” and does not reflect the islands’ limited capacity.
Secretary of State for Children Rubén Pérez confirmed a meeting will be held in October to address the saturation of the archipelago’s facilities.
Officials said Madrid may reject the Balearic objections, in which case the regional government plans to challenge the measure in court.
The Spanish Interior Ministry said migrant transfers remain an “essential responsibility of territorial solidarity” under national law.
European migration crisis intensifies
The Mediterranean remains one of the deadliest migration routes, with international agencies documenting repeated instances of abuse and violence during crossings.
The International Organization for Migration has called for stronger protections for minors, who face heightened risks of exploitation and assault.
Human rights groups continue to urge Spain and other European countries to improve reception conditions while addressing border pressures.
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Police said further updates on the Ibiza case would be provided once the investigation into the alleged migrant boat assault is complete.
