Survivors told investigators that several fellow passengers began “attacking dozens of people, beating and mistreating them in various ways“
MADRID: Spanish police said Wednesday that they had arrested 19 people accused of murder and torture aboard a migrant boat heading from Senegal to the Canary Islands, where at least 50 people went missing.
The wooden vessel was rescued adrift south of Gran Canaria in the Atlantic on August 24 with 248 survivors on board, the Spanish National Police said.
Authorities believe the boat originally carried around 300 people, and many of the missing are presumed to have been thrown overboard during the 11-day voyage.
Survivors told investigators that several fellow passengers began “attacking dozens of people, beating and mistreating them in various ways,” police said in a statement.
“In some cases, they threw migrants into the sea alive and refused to rescue those who fell in by accident,” it added.
Some of the killings are thought to be linked to superstitions, with victims accused of being “witches” responsible for engine breakdowns, food shortages or storms. Others were allegedly killed for protesting the harsh conditions.
One male passenger, seriously ill when rescued, later died in hospital.
All 19 suspects are in pretrial detention facing charges of facilitating irregular immigration, homicide, assault and torture.
Spain is one of the three main entry points for irregular migrants to Europe, alongside Italy and Greece.
Authorities say thousands have died in recent years attempting the Atlantic crossing, mainly to the Canary Islands.
Strong ocean currents and poorly maintained vessels make the long journey off Africa’s west coast especially dangerous.
Almost 47,000 migrants reached the archipelago last year, setting a record for the second consecutive year, as stricter Mediterranean controls pushed migrants to attempt the Atlantic route.
Numbers are down so far this year, falling 53 percent between January 1 and September 15 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the latest interior ministry figures.
