About thirty family members from Sallent, the town near Barcelona, mourned as they learned that two sisters connected to the Sallent twins leaped from a third floor, plunging into the void. The shock rippled through the regional education community. Friends and supporters gathered in the streets this Friday, demanding justice and an end to bullying. Demonstrations occurred near the local education centers, as residents expressed concern that the sisters faced persistent hostility at school. Protesters argued the girls were not treated with the care they deserved, and the ongoing situation foreshadowed decisions made about the young students in the first center where the pair received primary schooling. The sense of an unresolved bullying problem weighed heavily on the community, amplifying the tragedy for the sisters and their families.
The surviving sister, who died later in autumn, had spoken of a troubling home life. In recent months, her appearance and statements suggested growing distress and an intensified desire to change gender, compounded by peer pressure.
Two notes written before the sisters took drastic action showed an intense separation from their daily reality and a longing for companionship in the face of loss. The messages expressed a deep fear of living under pressure, and a wish to be together with the deceased sister no matter what. The letters did not explicitly mention school harassment, a detail that the community emphasized, offering a broader, more general reflection on their difficult situation.
Generalitat did not detect harassment
During a visit to the Llobregat Institute, where the girls were enrolled in the first year of ESO, the Education Minister stated that no specific bullying cases had been identified at the school. He acknowledged the broader social context and described suicide as a tragedy that reflects multifactorial factors affecting society as a whole. While his comments did not definitively rule out harassment, he noted that he was not aware of any doubts about personal identity that might have impacted the students. The minister added that the school had not identified any instances of tyranny or targeted harassment, which initially led the Conselleria to question that hypothesis. The authorities activated the Student Support Unit in response, with Mossos regional police providing assistance.
Prevention and policy context
The minister argued that the department is pursuing policies aimed at reducing risky behavior among adolescents, acknowledging that meaningful changes take time and cannot happen overnight. He mentioned that the Salut-Escola program is under review by the Ministry of National Education and Health, though he did not offer further specifics.
On behalf of Sallent, the mayor Oriol Ribalta described the early response as cautious, explaining that officials did not have sufficient information at the outset to label the events as bullying. He stressed that the situation is multifactorial and noted that the community environment is complex, with ongoing engagement from Social Services. He also addressed concerns about possible racism, expressing regret if it played a role and underscoring Sallent’s history as a tolerant town.
The City Council has remained involved in supporting the affected families since the events. It is coordinating efforts to assist the twins’ grandparents, who reside in Argentina, including arrangements to cover their stay and funeral costs where applicable. The hospitalized girl was reported to be in a stable but critically ill condition, with hopes for recovery. Family sources indicated serious lung injuries, but expressed cautious optimism about the potential for improvement.