Madrid’s municipal police and the national police coordinated a rescue after learning that three children had been held in a residence for three weeks by their own parents. The couple was arrested on charges of child abduction for failing to return the children to the foster care system after a visit.
The children, aged 9, 4, and 2, were taken from a foster care center by their father during the last weekend of August and were kept at an address on Antonio Antoranz Street in the Madrid district of Carabanchel until Tuesday. Police sources cited to EFE confirmed the location and timing to the press.
The absence of the minors prompted an alert at Isabel de Castilla Children’s Home Center in the Vallecas district after the children spent August 26 and 27 with their father while their mother was prohibited from visiting. Social services reported the disappearance to authorities, triggering a city-wide response.
Initial statements from the National Police suggested they were not aware of the abduction until September 14. The Department of Family, Youth and Social Affairs later stated that the information had been communicated on the same day as the kidnapping and then updated their account to reflect that the center had filed a formal complaint on the 28th, noting the involvement of the Junior Group (GRUME).
Municipal police later indicated that they had not known of the incident until the 14th; nevertheless, the operation to locate the children did not begin in earnest until this Tuesday, following the escalation of inquiries.
A joint operation by the National Police and the Municipal Police led investigators to the couple’s home, where authorities believe the minors had been held. It is standard practice for guardianship matters to obtain judicial authorization for custodial actions, and officers forced entry using equipment designed to ensure safety, encountering both parents inside the premises with a forceful and resistant attitude.
During the confrontation, the father reportedly sprayed liquid at officers, while the residence contained a number of obstacles arranged to impede entry. The situation prompted a response that included securing the scene and ensuring the safe entry of law enforcement personnel.
Asked about the location of the children, the detainees allegedly attacked the officers and attempted to obstruct the operation by setting fire to a pile of mattresses, chairs, and other flammable items. The fire brigade had to intervene to prevent a wider blaze and to ensure the safety of everyone in the building.
Once access was achieved, the three children appeared to be in a room farthest from the door, hidden inside a built-in closet. They received medical attention from SAMUR-C Civil Protection units and were checked for any immediate health concerns before being taken to a safe place for ongoing care and monitoring.
The parents were subsequently arrested on multiple charges related to the incident, including kidnapping and theft, arson, and assault on a law enforcement officer. With the children now assessed and safeguarded, GRUME is responsible for arranging their welfare and coordination with the relevant guardianship services to determine next steps in their care.
In the wake of the events, authorities stated that the minors would be returned to appropriate guardianship facilities as part of the ongoing protective process, under the supervision of GRUME and the guardianship system, while investigators continue reviewing the case to determine the full extent of legal actions necessary for the parents. (Source: Madrid police and social services reports, corroborated by central authorities.)