Man Arrested Over Sexual Assaults on Homeless Women

Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra, have arrested a 44-year-old man in Barcelona’s Eixample district in connection with two sexual assaults and robberies targeting homeless women in early July.

The first attack occurred on 2 July near Sants station, where the victim was sitting on a bench when the suspect approached her, engaged in conversation, then became violent. He struck her, dragged her to a nearby garden area, sexually assaulted her and stole her handbag, mobile phone and €65.

Investigators from the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) began examining the case but initially made little progress until a second, similar assault was reported.

Repeat Attack in Blanes

On the morning of 20 July, during the town’s main festival in Blanes, another homeless woman was attacked in a vacant lot near the fairgrounds where she regularly sleeps. The suspect used the same method: he spoke with her before assaulting her physically and sexually. He also stole her watch and €20.

A fairworker inside a nearby caravan heard screams and came out; the attacker fled immediately. Local police in Blanes provided first assistance and identified the suspect as a temporary worker at the fair who had disappeared without notice.

The Mossos confirmed the suspect had also stolen personal belongings from the fairworker who employed him.

Link Between Cases

DIC specialists in sexual assault cases connected the Blanes attack to the earlier incident in Barcelona. Their investigation led them to identify and locate the suspect in Barcelona.

He was arrested on 24 July at around 8 p.m. by plainclothes officers, operating in coordination with Blanes investigators and under the direction of the Regional Operational Duty Chief.

The suspect faces two counts of sexual assault, two of robbery with violence, and one of bodily injury. On the day of his arrest, he was transferred to the on-duty investigating court in Blanes.

Victims of sexual assault in Catalonia can report incidents online via the Mossos d'Esquadra's internet reporting portal.

Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, ${rpb.dspace.name}, ${rpb.dspace.name}, Dep. Interior Generalitat Catalunya, mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by Lucas Martorell, Lola Medina Cirera, Joan Arcos, elpais.com, larazon.es, Marta Rodríguez, redaccio, Público,Europa Press, metropoliabierta.cat.