SCHOOL children accused of gang-raping a girl, 12, were handed just a one week suspension because they’re too young to be held criminally responsible.
The girl was allegedly attacked by five or six classmates during a birthday party at a public venue outside their school in Burgos, Spain.
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The girl was allegedly attacked by five or six classmates during a birthday party Credit: Getty
Police confirmed all those involved are aged just 11 or 12 Credit: Getty
In a decision set to spark outrage, the school expelled the boys – only to allow them back through the gates a week later.
Both the alleged victim and the accused have now returned to lessons.
The boys are being kept separate from other pupils – alongside several classmates – in a controversial move said to “avoid their stigmatization”.
Police confirmed all those involved are aged just 11 or 12, meaning they fall below the age of criminal responsibility and cannot be prosecuted.
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Instead, officers have passed a full report on the alleged attack to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office.
The alleged horror was first reported to police last month by the girl’s devastated family, sparking and investigation into the disturbing claims.
According to Diario de Burgos, the 12-year-old was left traumatised – both physically and emotionally – in the aftermath of the alleged attack.
Education chiefs in Burgos, along with the wider school community across the region, are understood to be fully aware of the case.
The school expelled the boys – only to allow them back through the gates a week later in Burgos Credit: Getty
The alleged horror was first reported to police last month by the girl’s devastated family Credit: Getty
It comes just after schoolgirls as young as 15 claimed they were sexually assaulted on a cruise after being “plied with alcohol or drugs”.
Up to 10 girls are understood to have gone to police after the ship they were travelling on docked in Barcelona on May 1.
Police in Spain are investigating the alleged assaults after eight victims made statements in Barcelona and a further two in the Basque Country.
A well-placed source said: “Police are investigating the possibility the minors were plied with alcohol or narcotics before they were allegedly sexually assaulted.”
They added: “This is being treated as an investigation into possible sexual assaults. Under Spanish law, this covers a multitude of different types of behaviour, ranging from inappropriate touching to rape.
“We are not going to specify exactly what allegedly happened, but we are not talking here about rape but other types of behaviour which are also criminal.”
The girls, all pupils at the same school in the Basque Country, were on a privately organised trip on an unnamed cruise liner when the alleged incidents are said to have taken place.
No arrests have been made so far, but local reports have identified the suspects as a couple in their 20s. This has not been confirmed by police.
Sources close to the investigation said the suspects are adults who were not part of the girls’ group, adding they have been identified and located.
Barcelona is understood to have been the start and finish point for the four-day Mediterranean cruise.
The Basque Government’s Security Minister, Bingen Zupiria, confirmed police there had received two complaints.
A Guardia Civil spokesperson in Barcelona said: “We were made aware of alleged incidents involving minors when the cruise liner docked here on May 1.
“The possible authors would be adults. Officers received several complaints and have taken a number of statements and an investigation is ongoing.
“A local court has been informed and it will be up to the court to determine what happens next.”
