Moroccan mother and children tragically killed by ex-husband in Spain

A 30-year-old Moroccan mother and her two children, ages 5 and 7, were tragically murdered on Saturday by their father in the Spanish town of Las Pedroneras.

At the request of the Las Pedroneras City Council, a minute of silence was held today in the town «in solidarity with the victims and as a sign of condemnation and rejection of this act of gender-based violence».

Local residents placed black and purple ribbons, candles, and posters with messages in memory of the three victims and against gender-based violence in front of the gates of the Pedroneras municipal building.

According to local media, the bodies were found in a house next to the one where the victim lived after a family friend reported her absence from work on Friday. This triggered an investigation into the case.

The suspect, identified as Mehdi, has been arrested and awaits trial.

Investigation sources told Spanish news agency EFE that surveillance cameras installed in the city's main park played a key role in identifying the movements of the accused, who is the victim's former husband.

The bodies of the three victims are expected to be repatriated to Morocco in the coming days.