Up to ten schoolgirls aged 15 and 16 'are sexually assaulted after drinks spiked during Spanish cruise'

Published: 14:55, 8 May 2026 | Updated: 14:56, 8 May 2026 Spanish police are investigating several alleged sexual assaults on teenage girls who claim they were targeted on a cruise liner after having their drinks spiked. Up to ten girls aged 15 and 16 are so far understood to have gone to cops who have confirmed they are investigating. The Civil Guard in Barcelona where the ship docked on May 1 have taken statements from eight alleged victims and the Ertzaintza, the main police force for Spain's Basque Country, another two. The girls all go to the same school in the Basque Country and were on a trip organised privately on the unnamed cruise liner when the alleged sexual assaults occurred. No arrests have yet been made but sources close to the ongoing investigation confirmed today the suspects, adults who were not part of the girls' group, have been identified and located. Barcelona is understood to have been the start and finish point for the four-day Mediterranean cruise. The Basque Government's Security Minister Bingen Zupira confirmed police there had received two complaints. A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Barcelona said: 'We were made aware of alleged incidents involving minors when the cruise liner docked here on May 1. Spanish police are investigating several alleged sexual assaults on teenage girls who claim they were targeted on a cruise liner after having their drinks spiked (stock image of Barcelona port) 'The possible authors would be adults. 'Officers received several complaints and have taken a number of statements and an investigation is ongoing. 'A local court has been informed and it will be up to the court to determine what happens next.' A well-placed source said: 'This is being treated as an investigation into possible sexual assaults which under Spanish law covers a multitude of different types of behaviour, ranging from inappropriate touching to rape. 'We're not going to specify exactly what allegedly happened but we're not talking here about rape but other types of behaviour which are also criminal.' The insider added: 'Officers are investigating the possibility the minors were plied with alcohol or narcotics before they were allegedly sexually assaulted.' Local reports have identified the suspects as a couple aged in their twenties but this has not been confirmed by police. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.