Moroccan man arrested for raping a minor in downtown Hortaleza, Madrid

A young man of Moroccan origin, registered as a minor in a reception center in Hortaleza (Madrid), is under investigation for committing a sexual assault against a Spanish minor.

The case has reignited the political debate regarding the management and control of unaccompanied foreign minors (MENAs) in the Community of Madrid.

Last weekend, a 14-year-old girl was the victim of a sexual assault near the unaccompanied foreign minors center (MENAs) located in Hortaleza, northeast of Madrid.

The perpetrator is a young Moroccan, officially registered as 17 years old and a resident of the center. The events took place in one of the public spaces adjacent to the reception center, on the night from Friday to Saturday.

According to official sources, the minor was in the area after meeting up with a friend, who arrived accompanied by two young men also housed at the Hortaleza center. While this friend stepped away, leaving the victim alone with one of the young men, he allegedly made unwanted advances, which led to the alleged sexual assault. A neighbor, alerted by the girl's screams, notified the National Police, whose officers arrived at the scene and found the victim in a state of shock.

The perpetrator attempted to flee at the time of the police intervention and resisted arrest, which, along with his physical build, has raised doubts about his real age. Although official records indicate that he was born in Tangier in December 2007, authorities suspect that he is of legal age. This suspicion is based on the detainee's appearance, the strength he used during the assault and arrest, as well as his police record, which includes the use of up to three false identities to commit various crimes.

After his arrest, the young man was taken to specialized facilities of the Family and Women's Care Unit (UFAM) of the National Police, where the corresponding procedures were carried out. Subsequently, he was placed in the holding cells of theJuvenile Group (GRUME) of the Provincial Judicial Police Brigade. The minor received medical assistance and was transferred to La Paz Hospital for specialized care.

This incident has prompted political reactions, especially among the Madrid right, where parties such as VOX have demanded tougher immigration policies and a review of age identification protocols. The spokesperson for VOX in the Assembly of Madrid, Isabel PérezMoñino, together with the deputy Rocío de Meer, traveled to Hortaleza to address the media and express their concern about the security situation in the neighborhood.

Both leaders stated that "the insecurity experienced by residents due to the presence of the foreign minors center in the neighborhood" is unacceptable, and have demanded the immediate closure of the Hortaleza center and all reception centers for immigrants in irregular situations in Spain.

Additionally, VOX has insisted on the need to implement reliable age tests for unaccompanied foreign minors and has advocated for the reunification of these young people in their countries of origin, accompanied by international agreements that allow for their effective repatriation.

They also referred to the refusal of the Partido Popular and the president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to carry out age tests on MENAs, pointing out that this lack of control may allow someone who is not actually a minor to end up being tried as such, with all the procedural benefits that this entails.