Warning: This piece contains themes that may be upsetting for some readers.
Spanish authorities have rescued three children who were allegedly confined to their home by their parents for a duration of four years.
The rescue operation took place on Monday (April 28), and involved eight-year-old twins and their 10-year-old sibling.
It is believed that the children had not left the house since 2021 and were not attending school during this time.
Reports suggest that the children were forced to continue following COVID restrictions, like wearing masks, even though such mandates had been lifted.
Following their rescue, the children underwent a medical examination and have since been placed in a juvenile center under government care, as reported by Sky News.
The parents have been taken into custody. They are suspected to have ‘COVID syndrome’ and face charges of habitual psychological abuse and child abandonment, according to Oviedo Police Department.
The couple, aged 53 and 48, remain in custody without the possibility of bail.
This condition, also referred to as COVID anxiety syndrome (CAS), is characterized by a persistent fear of the virus.
According to VeryWellMind, symptoms include compulsive checks for COVID symptoms, avoidance of public spaces, obsessive cleaning, and other controlling behaviors.
During a press briefing, Oviedo Police Chief Javier Lozano described the residence as a ‘house of horrors.’ An officer informed El Mundo newspaper: “The children were in terrible shape. It was absolutely outrageous. Not malnourished, because they were fed. But they were also dirty… [and] completely cut off from reality, and not just because they didn’t go to school.”
The officer noted: “When we took them out of the house, into the garden, where they wouldn’t even go outside, they saw a snail and went crazy, freaked out.”
Reports indicate that despite their age, the children were forced to sleep in cots adorned with monster drawings.
The house itself was in disarray, cluttered with trash, large amounts of medication, and masks, creating a ‘clearly unsanitary situation.’
Authorities had to communicate with the children in English, as they were unable to speak Spanish due to their absence from schooling and being born to German parents.
If you are affected by these issues or need to talk to someone about child welfare, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline can be reached at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). The hotline operates 24/7 and accepts calls from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.