Authorities have arrested four staff members of a Spanish Daycare center after disturbing video footage reveals child abuse at the establishment.
Videos by Wide Open Country
According to a report by Euro Weekly, the incident occurred at the Cascanueces Nursery School in Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid. Police arrested four staff members after an intern secretly filmed the alleged abuse. She showed the video to her mother, who handed it to authorities. Two are facing charges of child abuse, while authorities accuse the other two of failing to report it.
The sickening footage was reportedly broadcast on Antena 3, which is a Spanish terrestrial TV channel. The video is very hard to watch, but it appears to show a worker gripping a child around the throat or collar while holding a plate of food. The child was uncontrollably sobbing while the staff member tried to force food into their mouth.
The worker appears to hold the child's head against the wall at the start of the video. She then re-positions and continues trying to forcefully feed the infant. Shockingly, another staff member is walking around in the background oblivious, and does nothing to intervene. According to Euro Weekly, the worker, who is speaking Spanish, tells the child, "Spit it out? I'll put it back in you. Don't spit your food out. Swallow it."
Concerned Parents Remove Their Children From The Daycare Center
According to El Mundo, a Spanish news outlet, the intern who filmed the incident was 17 years old. The intern also alleges that the worker was abusive to other children while trying to make them eat. Euro Weekly explains that multiple families have since filed formal complaints against the nursery. Many have reportedly removed their children from the establishment entirely and are demanding answers and accountability.
A translated report by El Mundo says that a judge has agreed to release all four women. However, they must attend monthly visits to a courthouse and are banned from working with minors in any capacity. The article explains that this charge is 'initial' and could be modified in the future, pending the results of an investigation.
