Spanish police have arrested 19 people accused of murder, torture and other crimes after more than 50 migrants went missing from a boat that left Senegal for the Canary Islands.
Authorities said the wooden vessel, which had set sail with about 300 people, was intercepted south of Gran Canaria on 24 August with 248 survivors on board. Police believe the missing passengers were thrown overboard during the voyage.
According to statements from survivors, violence broke out on board after the boat experienced engine problems, bad weather and food shortages. Some migrants were accused of being "witches" and were attacked, while others were assaulted for raising complaints about the harsh conditions.
“In some cases, they threw migrants into the sea alive and refused to rescue those who fell in by accident,” police said. Suspected killings were also reported “simply because some people protested or expressed their dissatisfaction with the conditions of the voyage.”
One passenger, who was found in critical condition when the vessel was intercepted, later died in hospital. Those on board were from several West African countries, including Senegal, Guinea, Mali, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, local media reported.
All 19 suspects are being held in pretrial detention and face charges including facilitating irregular immigration, homicide, assault and torture.
Spain remains one of the main entry routes for irregular migrants heading to Europe, with most arriving through the Canary Islands.
Nearly 47,000 migrants landed on the islands in 2024, marking a second consecutive record year, though arrivals have dropped sharply in 2025, according to the Interior Ministry.
