Minor detained in Ceuta, Spain, over alleged assault on four children

Migrants themselves held the suspect accused of assaulting four children in Ceuta

It was they, not the police, who reacted first. On Monday afternoon in Ceuta, a group of migrants raised the alarm about what a 17-year-old unaccompanied foreign minor (known as a "mena" in the sector's jargon), housed at the Punta Blanca reception centre, had done, and held him until officers from the National Police arrived and took him into custody. The young man allegedly sensual assaulted four other children aged 10 and 11 who were staying at the same centre.

The case reopens an uncomfortable debate: that of a protection system that houses a 17-year-old teenager in the same facility as 10-year-old children. And it comes amid a political dispute over immigration, minors' law and incivil responsibility.

Some argue that, being a minor, he will walk free without consequences. Others point to institutional racism: if the attacker were Spanish, he would be treated differently. In the middle, sources at the centre issue a warning that no one has answered: "What is happening must be told, the authorities are keeping it quiet."

The case also exposes the mixing of ages in the centres and a blind spot: the lack of information about the backgrounds of the unaccompanied foreign minors arriving in Ceuta. Sources at the centre insist the official version leaves out important details. No one knows for certain what record they have.

The detainee remains at Punta Blanca. The case is still open. Will the child protection system that was supposed to look after those children respond this time?