Spanish police said Wednesday they have arrested five French tourists and a Swiss holidaymaker on suspicion of sexually assaulting a young British woman on the holiday island of Mallorca.

The assault allegedly happened at dawn on Monday at a hotel in the resort of Magaluf, which is renowned for its rowdy parties and cheap alcohol as much as its white-sand beaches.

A judge has ordered the six suspects to be held in custody while the investigation into the sexual assault continues, a spokesman for Spain’s Guardia Civil police force said without giving further details.

Under Spanish law, sexual assault takes in a wide array of crimes from online abuse and groping to rape, each with different penalties.

Spanish media said the hotel’s security staff called the police after finding the British woman crying for help just outside the establishment.

She had reportedly agreed to go to the room of one of the suspects where she was then allegedly sexually assaulted by all six but managed to flee. Police detained the suspects shortly after.(AFP)