A terrible story of isolation and abuse in the small Spanish town of Oviedo has shaken public opinion and sparked a widespread internal debate about child safety and rights in modern Europe
Over the course of three years, young children kept in isolated conditions, made to sleep in cages, and deprived of any connection to the outside world, were ultimately rescued and freed by the Spanish police. According to official information released by the newspaper La Nueva España and circulated by "European Truth," the drama took place in a private house located on the outskirts of Oviedo. There, a family from Germany lived who, according to neighbors, kept their children — eight-year-old twins and a ten-year-old boy — in complete isolation from the outside world for more than three years. The discovery began by chance: one neighbor noticed that the children did not attend school, and there was very little noise or activity emanating from their house, unlike normal childhood sounds. She observed that the children almost disappeared from view and did not go outside for walks, which raised alarms. Eyewitnesses reported that the children rarely left the property and lived under harsh, seemingly harmless but extremely worrying conditions. They slept in cages, and interrogations and examinations revealed that they had been confined not only physically but also psychologically — deprived of contact with any external reality. The children did not have access to educational institutions, were not taken to school, and were not allowed outside even in their own yard, raising questions about the motivation behind such actions by the parents. Equally shocking were details about the mode of keeping the children: reports indicate that the kids were made to wear diapers and masks, likely for isolation and control over their condition. Local law enforcement officials stated that the probable parents, German citizens, mainly worked from home, leaving their house only for short trips to the mailbox or to buy food. At the same time, the reason for such severe isolation remains unknown — it might be part of the parents’ ideology or an indication of psychological disorders. The operation quickly moved into an active phase after a neighbor reported her concerns. Spanish police carried out a raid, arrested the parents on April 28, and placed the children in a children’s facility for further safety and medical examination. It was subsequently confirmed that the children had been in serious psychological and physical isolation for over three years. This case has become a loud reminder of the importance of monitoring children’s rights and preventing abuse within families. It is worth recalling that in 2024, the Supreme Court of Spain declared the deportation of unaccompanied migrant children illegal, emphasizing the importance of protecting minors’ rights and preventing such tragedies in the future. While law enforcement continues its investigation, the public expresses outrage and concern — as such cases reveal deep issues within the child protection system, especially when parents or guardians resort to extreme measures to hide their behavior. At the same time, this incident serves as another call to increase community oversight and responsibility, ensuring that no child in modern Europe remains without attention and support in their greatest time of need.