Two Supervisors at a Leisure Center in Biarritz Taken into Police Custody

Biarritz – 21 July 2026: Two supervisors at the Mouriscot leisure center in Biarritz were taken into police custody on Tuesday. According to sources close to the investigation, the men, aged 21 and 36, are suspected of having committed rape and sexual assault against at least 13 children. The children are believed to be between three and four years old.

The Bayonne public prosecutor’s office is conducting the investigation. Both suspects are being questioned about the allegations. Police custody is a provisional criminal procedure measure and does not constitute a finding of guilt. It was not yet known on Tuesday afternoon whether formal proceedings involving further judicial steps would be initiated against the men.

The site concerned is identified as the Mouriscot leisure center. The city of Biarritz lists a holiday activity program under this name on Rue Mouriscot for the 2026 summer holidays. The facility cares for children during school breaks. Investigative authorities initially did not publicly disclose the period during which the alleged acts are said to have occurred.

Based on the information known so far, the allegations concern at least 13 children. This number may change as the investigation progresses, for example if further leads, statements or complaints are examined. Law enforcement authorities must now assess the children’s statements through a particularly protected procedure and secure any additional evidence.

In suspected cases of sexual violence against minors, protecting the children concerned and safeguarding their privacy are the priority. For this reason, neither names nor further identifying details about the children are published. The identities of the suspects are also not disclosed. Both men are presumed innocent until a final court decision.

For families whose children attended the leisure center, the investigation is likely to raise significant questions. In such cases, authorities and operators must determine whether protective measures are required within the facility and how parents should be informed. As of 21 July, no official details were initially available regarding possible organizational consequences at Mouriscot.

The case comes at a time when the protection of minors in holiday and childcare programs is being discussed more intensely. At the beginning of July, the French government announced additional checks and improved information-sharing on employment bans in the childcare sector. However, the specific findings of the Bayonne public prosecutor’s office will remain decisive for the proceedings in Biarritz.