SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Feb. 18 (EUROPA PRESS) –
A 25-year-old man has been apprehended by the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Local Police on suspicion of sexually assaulting a girl under 17 years old during the Piñata Saturday festivities at Plaza de España. The girl was escorted to the Violet Point of the Carnival Hospital after the authorities were informed of the incident.
Officers from the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office accompanied the victim to a medical facility and then to the police station, where her mother was located. The police identified and subsequently detained the suspect based on the description of the costume he was wearing.
At the Violet Point, which was set up at the Carnival Hospital, professionals attended to two women, one being the possible victim of the aforementioned sexual assault and another involved in a potential case of gender violence.
The culmination of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival saw a mix of daytime and nighttime celebrations, attracting thousands of revellers to the streets, necessitating significant efforts from the security and emergency services. The Advanced Command Post (PMA) and the Carnival Hospital were active for nearly 20 consecutive hours, overseeing the coordination of law enforcement, healthcare, fire, and Civil Protection personnel.
The night operation resulted in the treatment of a total of 104 individuals, comprising 96 adults and eight minors. Alcohol intoxication accounted for 38.4% of the cases attended to during the Piñata Saturday night revelries. Additionally, 56 men and 48 women received medical attention on the streets during the final hours of the Carnival.
Among those affected by alcohol consumption, 36 were adults and four were minors. Instances of accidents resulting from trauma and falls were also prevalent, with a reported 15 cases. There were 11 incidents classified as attacks and 31 people treated for common illnesses.
Moreover, 13 individuals were referred to hospitals for diagnostic tests or specialized care for their medical conditions.
As part of the preventive and healthcare efforts focusing on young attendees, managed by the Spanish Red Cross in collaboration with the Local Police unit connected to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, data on 15 minors (seven girls and eight boys, aged between 15 and 17) were recorded and analysed, with 53% of cases attributed to alcohol poisoning.
60 ASSISTANCES DURING THE DAYTIME CARNIVAL
In relation to the daytime Carnival activities, a total of 60 individuals received assistance from the security and emergency services, comprising mostly adults (88%). Of the interventions carried out, 33% were due to excessive alcohol consumption, with 15 cases of trauma and falls, 24 instances of common illnesses, and four referrals for diagnostic tests.
The Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office unit recorded the details of five minors during the daytime Carnival festivities, with three cases involving alcohol poisoning. The minors were aged between nine and 15 years old, with all services activated around 8:30 p.m. due to the temporary disappearance of a minor who was subsequently located and reunited with his mother.
Furthermore, no interventions were required at the Violet Point set up at the Carnival Hospital during the daytime activities.
The law enforcement efforts at both Carnival events involved the Local Police, National Police, Tenerife Firefighters Consortium, Santacrucera Civil Protection volunteer group, Tegueste Civil Protection volunteering, Güímar Civil Protection, Valle El Golfo Civil Protection Association, Tamadaya Protection and Emergency Association of Arico, and healthcare personnel from the Spanish Red Cross, all coordinated from the Advanced Command Post (PMA) located at the Carnival Hospital in General Gutiérrez Mellado square in Tenerife’s capital.
Updates on the progress of the operations and services during the previous night have been disseminated through the municipal Twitter accounts of the Municipal Administration Operational Coordination Center (Cecopal) @CECOPALSC, as well as the Local Police @PoliciaLocalSC and Civil Protection volunteers @ProteCivilSCTF, using the hashtag #HospitalCarnavalSC.
