The reported sexual assault of a teenage girl in Tunisia has sent shockwaves throughout the country, with citizens calling for authorities to improve the protection of children amid rising violence.

What happened: Local media reported that a 15-year-old girl identified only as Yaqeen was gang-raped in the Mellassine neighborhood of the capital of Tunis on Sept. 19 and subsequently went missing. News of the story broke on Monday, and Yaqeen is reportedly in the hospital in critical condition as a result of injuries she sustained during the assault. 

Yaqeen was reportedly on her way to meet a friend at a cafe when the incident occurred and her mother became unable to contact her, but the news did not reach the public until more than a week later. 

Tunisian media outlets, including Mosaique FM, reported on Tuesday that two individuals have been arrested in regards to the case — a nurse who allegedly assisted in covering up the crime and an individual who is close to one of the suspected perpetrators of the rape. The outlet reported that police are searching for at least two young male suspects in Mellassine and the nearby neighborhood of Sijoumi.