Spanish authorities have arrested seven crew members of a migrant boat that reached the Canary Islands from Senegal in December, accused of killing eight passengers, including a baby. According to the Civil Guard, the boat arrived at La Restinga port in El Hierro on December 28 with 224 people on board, many suffering severe injuries. Investigators revealed that some passengers had been deliberately targeted based on nationality.
Among the victims were a 14-month-old Gambian boy and a Guinean father and son, aged 50 and 18. Authorities have not disclosed the crew’s nationality. The suspects have been detained as investigations continue.
This is not the first such incident. In November 2024, another boat crew was arrested upon arrival in El Hierro for allegedly killing four passengers during their journey. The Canary Islands continue to face a surge in irregular migration, with many making the dangerous Atlantic crossing from Senegal, Mali, and Morocco.
Official figures show that 46,843 migrants arrived in the Canary Islands last year, accounting for 73% of all illegal entries into Spain. The perilous route, often controlled by smuggling networks, claims thousands of lives annually.