A 21-year-old Irish woman was sexually assaulted in the Portuguese holiday resort of Albufeira early Sunday morning, authorities announced. The Policia Judiciaria (Judicial Police) arrested a 24-year-old foreign national, described by sources as an Indian national, on suspicion of committing the crime.
The victim, who works at a bar, was walking home after her shift when she was approached by the suspect. Police stated that the attacker took advantage of the victim's "vulnerable state, resulting from the consumption of alcohol." The assault involved "significant sexual acts," according to a police statement.
Following an investigation that gathered evidence, detectives arrested the suspect. He was brought before judicial authorities and conditionally released. His release includes an obligation to report daily to the nearest criminal police body and a prohibition from contacting the victim. The criminal investigation and prosecution department in Albufeira is leading the ongoing inquiry.
This incident follows a similar report in August 2024, when an Irish tourist, believed to be around 50 years old, reported being sexually attacked by two men in Albufeira. At the time, police were seeking witnesses and reviewing CCTV footage, but the exact location of that alleged assault was not publicly disclosed.