Mallorca kidnapping: three found barefoot on motorway
Mallorca: A traffic patrol finds three 18-year-olds barefoot on a motorway after masked men abduct, beat and rob them in Inca. The five attackers target the young migrant men as they sleep in a public space overnight from Thursday to Friday last week. On 2 October, the Civil Guard reports arresting a 24-year-old suspect.
The attackers arrive in two cars, strike the men with sticks and force them into the boots. They drive to an open plot and beat them again. One of the three is stabbed in the leg. The attackers take their phones, identity documents, shoes and other belongings, then leave them there.
Hours later, a Civil Guard traffic patrol spots the men on the motorway. At Inca District Hospital, doctors treat injuries including a broken nose, broken fingers and head wounds that need stitches. After leaving hospital, the three file a complaint with the Civil Guard, accompanied by staff from Cáritas.
One arrest, four suspects still sought
Officers find the 24-year-old in a makeshift settlement in a wooded area of Inca as he tries to set his vehicle alight, according to the Civil Guard’s Balearic command. In one of the cars used in the attack, they find knives and traces of blood; samples go to a laboratory for analysis. Officers also recover some of the victims’ belongings.
The investigation remains open as officers seek the other suspects and work to establish each person’s role. Sources close to the inquiry believe the attack was a settling of scores linked to drug trafficking. For now, they rule out a xenophobic motive.
Recovering with help from Cáritas
The three men are staying in Cáritas accommodation while they recover. All had previously been in state care but had no suitable place to live after turning 18.
Cáritas says young migrants leaving care often lack enough family, social or housing support. It is calling on the relevant authorities and organisations to provide more help as they move into adulthood.
More on this topic: Traffic on Mallorca
Topics: Police · Migration · Health · Traffic · Politics · Inca
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com