A 27-year-old Moroccan national has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman on Malvarrosa Beach in Valencia, Spain. The incident reportedly occurred around 6:45 a.m. on Sunday when the alleged assailant approached the 22-year-old woman as she was resting on the sand after an early morning swim. According to reports, he covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming.
A passer-by alerted police, who were patrolling the area. A chase ensued, during which the suspect allegedly punched an officer. Authorities arrested the man and took the alleged victim to La Fe Hospital in Valencia for medical examinations. The woman, who had reportedly been drinking alcohol after a night out, was semi-naked when police found her; her dress had allegedly been torn off by the attacker.
The suspect is expected to appear in court soon, where a judge will likely order him to be held in local prison pending the investigation. This incident follows similar alleged attacks involving foreign nationals in Spanish tourist areas.
In June, a Tunisian man was arrested in Valencia in connection with separate alleged sexual assaults on three British tourists. Two teenage women reported being assaulted at a hostel on June 9, and a third woman, aged 26, reported a similar assault that occurred on the preceding Sunday morning.
In May, a van driver was arrested in Palma, Mallorca, on suspicion of abducting and sexually assaulting a young British tourist. The woman reportedly escaped when the van stopped at a red light and witnesses intervened, providing police with a photograph of the suspect's license plate.
Also in May, a foreign tourist in Manacor, Mallorca, alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men she met in a bar. She reported feeling unwell after leaving her drink unattended and was allegedly taken to waste ground and assaulted in a car. Local residents alerted police after the woman sought help.
