14 minors identified as victims of sexual assault in San Sebastián candy shop

The Ertzaintza, the Basque police, has identified 14 minors as victims of alleged sexual assaults committed by a 22-year-old man who ran a candy shop in the Amara neighborhood of San Sebastián. The suspect, arrested on June 30, remains in provisional prison. The assaults are said to have occurred between 2020 and 2026, with victims aged 10 to 18 at the time Source: La Vanguardia.

Investigation

The investigation began after a minor reported two assaults on June 25 and 26 inside the shop. Police arrested the owner the same day, and a search yielded evidence Source: El Español. The case was later taken over by the SECIC, a unit specializing in serial sexual crimes, on July 8 Source: El Mundo. Authorities have since identified 14 victims, all of whom have given statements describing similar patterns of abuse Source: El Confidencial.

Key points

• The suspect was 22 at arrest and is Spanish; some assaults occurred when he was a minor, so those cases have been referred to the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office Source: El Mundo.
• The investigation remains open, and police are appealing for more victims to come forward, as the number may rise Source: Infobae.
• The Ertzaintza has not disclosed details of the evidence, but notes the cases share common elements of "special gravity" Source: La Vanguardia.

What's next

Police continue to analyze evidence and testimonies to determine the full scope of the alleged abuse. They urge anyone with information to contact authorities Source: El Español.