Headless ‘baby’ body found washed up on Spanish beach
Roda de Berà mayor Pere Virgili said the youngster could have been on a migrant boat which capsized
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A headless child's body has been found on a Spanish beach.
The youngster is believed to be only between two and three years of age and the remains were discovered at a beach in the Costa Dorada resort of Roda de Berà, Tarragona.
Police were alerted this morning after the body was found by a council cleaner at around 11.30am local time.
As well as its head, the body of the child reportedly has other parts missing too and is thought to have washed onto the beach from the water.
The area has been cordoned off while Civil Guard officers investigate.
According to the local press, Roda de Berà mayor Pere Virgili said the youngster could have been on a migrant boat which capsized in the Mediterranean.
Speaking to El Pais, Mr Virgili said: "An operator has seen what he thought was a two or three-year-old child.
"He is not wearing the proper clothing for being on the beach. He was wearing a bodysuit, a kind of tracksuit and a jacket."
A spokesman for the Civil Guard said: "All we can confirm at the moment is that the body of a baby has been found at Roda de Berà beach in the province of Tarragona.
"The alarm was raised at 8.50am this morning. The matter is still under investigation."
The body is in such a state of decomposition that it was first mistaken for a doll and so was not reported to the police initially.
An autopsy is expected to take place in the coming hours to find the cause of death.
A court spokesman said: “A court of instruction, Court of Instruction number 7 in El Vendrell which is acting as a duty court, has today authorised the removal of a body found on a beach in Roda de Bera.
“The judge has opened the corresponding inquiry and is awaiting receipt of the corresponding forensic and police reports.
“We do not have any extra information we can make public at this moment in time.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments