The US has issued a security alert for its citizens visiting Spain in response to a rise in the number of reported sexual assaults across the country.
Students and tourists are advised to “drink responsibly” and avoid travelling alone in a set of guidelines published by the US embassy in Spain.
The embassy also advised citizens to familiarise themselves with the law.
Spain’s interior ministry has reported a steady increase in sexual assaults nationally in recent years.
In a security alert posted online, the US embassy said that US citizens were among those to report serious instances of sexual violence.
It warned its citizens visiting or living in Spain not to “consume beverages that have been out of your control” and to use “the buddy system” – to travel with a friend or a family member.
“If you have been sexually assaulted, call 112 immediately… [and] consider contacting a local attorney to help you navigate the criminal justice process and protect your rights,” the alert added.
It said the advice was issued in response to a rise in reported incidents over the last five years.
In January, three young US women alleged they were sexually assaulted at a New Year’s Eve party in the southern Spanish city of Murcia.
Police questioned three suspects, who have all denied any wrongdoing, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported. The case is ongoing.
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