Spain arrests 19 on suspicion of torture and murder after 50 disappear from migrant boat

Police suspect some of the victims were accused of witchcraft by others on the boat that had travelled from Senegal.

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Police suspect some of the victims were accused of being "witches" after several incidents during the journey, including engine failure, bad weather and food shortages.

The wooden vessel was rescued south of Gran Canaria on 24 August with 248 survivors on board, the Spanish National Police said.

But officials believe that about 300 people were originally on the boat, and that some had been thrown overboard.

Survivors told police that some of their fellow passengers began "attacking dozens of people, beating and abusing them in various ways", a police statement said.