Man arrested for assaulting young woman near Getxo festival in Spain

Young woman stepped away to urinate and was assaulted at Getxo festival

Getxo's local police have arrested a man accused of sensual assaulting a young woman who left her group early this morning to urinate near the Usategui slope. According to sources contacted by El Correo, the attacker, of Maghrebi origin, was waiting nearby and groped her. A minor was also charged in connection with the case after being caught carrying a knife over 20 centimeters long.

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This is not an isolated case. In neighboring Basauri, four men were arrested for sensual assaulting a minor. The coincidence of both incidents, just before the start of Bilbao's Aste Nagusia (Great Week festival), has raised alarms about safety at large-scale events.

The risk of secluded areas

The details of the Getxo case are precise: the victim walked away from her group to relieve herself and was approached in a dark, isolated spot. The lack of public restrooms and poor lighting turn nights out into a danger. Testimonies suggest that attackers often take advantage of the minutes when a woman is alone.

The police response and the charges

The swift action of the local police led to the arrest of the suspect in Getxo, while the minor with the knife was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. In Basauri, the four detainees were brought before a judge. With no specific prevention measures in place — more lighting, patrols in drinking areas, or portable restrooms — street festivities remain vulnerable ground for women.

The Aste Nagusia festival kicks off next week and the official message is one of business as usual. The data from these two nights suggest otherwise. No one has yet explained what will change so that a woman can urinate at a festival without being attacked.