Woman, 22, ‘raped by illegal migrant’ on beach in Spanish holiday hotspot in horror attack after night out

AN ILLEGAL migrant has been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman, 22, who went for an early-hours dip at a Costa beach. The 27-year-old Moroccan is said to have targeted his alleged victim after creeping up on her as she relaxed on the sand after her swim. The alleged sex attack happened around 6.45am yesterday on Malvarrosa Beach Credit: Solarpix A busy restaurant along the beach where the attack took place Credit: Solarpix A passer-by strolling along the shoreline alerted police patrolling the area and a chase ensued. The suspect punched one of the officers involved in the pursuit in the face before he was arrested. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! The alleged sex attack happened around 6.45am on Sunday on Malvarrosa Beach, a famous urban beach situated east of Valencia city centre on the country’s eastern coastline. The stretch of beach where the attack occurred is near to a well-known nightclub called Akuarela. The alleged victim had been out partying and decided to take a dip in the sea as it dawned. She then lay down at the back of the beach near some sun loungers. Officers took her to La Fe Hospital in Valencia for tests. The unnamed man held is expected to appear in court later today where a judge is expected to remand him to a local prison pending an ongoing criminal probe. Most read in The Sun The stretch of beach where the attack occurred is near to a well-known nightclub called Akuarela Credit: Solarpix The alleged victim had been out partying and decided to take a dip in the sea Credit: Solarpix It comes after a spate of sex attacks against tourists across Spain’s popular holiday spots. In June, a Tunisian man was arrested for alleged sex attacks on three British holidaymakers, including two teenagers, at a hotel in Valencia. The 32-year-old suspect is said to have pretended to be an employee at the tourist establishment before targeting the younger pair. The incident took place just before 1.30am on June 9, after the two British women aged 18 and 19 arrived at the hostel in an Uber. The alleged sex offender, believed to be a guest at the hostel, opened the door to them and tricked them into following him to a bathroom before sexually assaulting them after a struggle. He then allegedly followed them to the women’s bathroom, took his clothes off and started having a shower. The two teens reported the alleged attack to police. When cops arrived the girls roommate – a third British woman aged 26 – said the same man had sexually assaulted her on Sunday morning. Police took the alleged victim to La Fe Hospital in Valencia for tests Credit: Solarpix A passer-by strolling along the shoreline alerted police Credit: Solarpix She said she had been cleaning her teeth in the women’s bathroom and he put his arms around her after creeping up on her from behind. The travellers’ hostel where the sexual assaults allegedly occurred is located in Valencia’s Camins al Grau neighbourhood. And in May a van driver was arrested on suspicion of abducting a young British tourist on the streets of the Majorcan capital Palma and sexually assaulting her. He allegedly bundled her into his vehicle after spotting her walking back to her hotel from a nightspot. The British woman, whose age has not been revealed, only managed to escape after the man stopped at a red light. Two people in a car following them, who had witnessed the street abduction, intervened. The witnesses managed to take a photograph of the suspect’s licence plate which was key to enabling police to locate the man and arrest him. Comment now