Assaults, woman’s disappearance, prompt Camino warning

Friday, June 5th, 2015

Pilgrims are being warned not to travel alone on a stretch of Spain’s Camino de Santiago after the disappearance of one woman and a series of assaults.

In April, American Denise Thiem, 41, went missing after last being seen near the church of Santa Marta in Astorga.

She was walking along the Camino Francés, one of the most popular of the pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela.

Spanish police say the investigation into her disappearance remains open, and family and friends have also organised their own searches of the area.

Late last month, a woman jogging near a popular spot for pilgrims was accosted by two men who attempted to force her into a car.

The administrator of an English-speaking online forum for the pilgrimage, Ivan Revke, said incidents of “improper behaviour” had been reported on a 24km stretch between Astorga and Rabanal del Camino.

He said pilgrims should walk in pairs or groups.

The Camino was, he said, a very safe place “but it only takes a few to make the situation more uncertain”.

Local authorities have also recommended that pilgrims avoid travelling alone along the most remote sections of the route.

“It’s for precaution, we understand there isn’t any danger,” said local mayor, Victorina Alonso.

She urged pilgrims to stay calm, noting that all of the incidents were being treated as isolated cases until the police found otherwise.

Residents have told local media that this wasn’t the first they had heard of incidents like the attempted abduction.

There have been complaints about a lack of security in the area.

A German pilgrim reported being deceived by a false “arrow” sign and walking to an area where a masked man attacked her with a stun gun, but she was able to flee.

Spanish police confirmed that someone had been arrested in connection with the case.

Sources