Mossos seek suspect after sexual assault on girl, 11

Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia's regional police, are seeking a man aged about 40 after an 11-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted inside the entrance of her own apartment building at the junction of Carrer de Casanova and Carrer de Còrsega in Barcelona on 2 September.

ElCaso reported, citing Mossos sources, that the man fled before he was identified. The case concerns residents in the building and on the surrounding streets because the alleged assault took place in a shared residential entrance.

According to ElCaso's account of the initial police inquiries, the man was not known to either the girl or the building's neighbours. The report said he allegedly touched the child before leaving the building.

Specialist child-protection unit leads inquiry

The Mossos' Àrea Central de Menors, the force's specialist unit for suspected offences against children, has taken charge of the investigation. Officers are using information provided by the girl to try to identify and locate the suspect, ElCaso reported.

If the case proceeds to court, it is due to be referred to the specialist Violence Against Children and Adolescents section of the Tribunal d'Instància de Barcelona, which would lead the judicial investigation.

Where to seek support or report a crime

People who need to make a crime report can consult the Mossos d'Esquadra crime-report page. The support information published with ElCaso's report also states that anyone can call 900 900 120 in cases of gender-based violence.

The 900 900 120 line is free, confidential and operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
It provides support in several languages.
The service offers direct psychological support, initial legal guidance and referral to specialist services when requested.

Primary sources: dsp.interior.gencat.cat, mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by Guillem RS, CatalunyaPress.es, CatalunyaPress.cat, elperiodico.cat, elpais.com, metropoliabierta.elespanol.com, Redacción digital Informativos Telecinco, 20minutos.es, elperiodico.com, ABC, lavanguardia.com, elmundo.es, El Caso.