By Omar Bah
A Gambian is among 19 men arrested in Spain for allegedly torturing and executing at least 50 migrants accused of witchcraft during a horror Atlantic crossing to Europe.
Police in Gran Canaria confirmed the arrests after 248 survivors were rescued off the African coast and taken to Arguineguín, in the south of Gran Canaria, on August 25 last year.
According to Spanish police, the overcrowded boat — a cayuco was intercepted by Spanish coastguards on August 24 off Dakhla, 265 miles from the Canary Islands, after Moroccan authorities said they were unable to help.
Witnesses brought ashore claimed fellow migrants were beaten, shot, tortured and thrown overboard after smugglers in charge of the vessel blamed them for the boat’s engine failure and dwindling food supplies — accusing them of being witches.
The first allegations of mass executions at sea emerged in early September last year, prompting a homicide investigation.
On September 17, Spanish police released images of the arrests and issued an official statement for the first time, revealing they believed “at least 50 migrants” were killed in the Atlantic.
Subsequent reports said 17 men, 16 Senegalese nationals and one Gambian had been arrested.
Police later confirmed 19 suspects were detained in total.
All 19 were remanded to prison after appearing before a Spanish judge. They are being investigated for people trafficking, homicide, wounding and torture.
Investigators say the victims were attacked after panic spread on the overcrowded cayuco.
When the engine failed and food ran out, those controlling the boat allegedly turned on some migrants, labelling them as witches responsible for the misfortune, before executing them and dumping their bodies into the ocean.