Rabat – Tensions in Ceuta boiled over on Wednesday night when protesters and migrants clashed near El Trampolín and Benítez beaches, where makeshift camps still house migrants who arrived during the mass crossings of July 30 and 31.
The unrest came after a demonstration that drew more than 2,000 people. Protesters demanded the removal of migrants from the Spanish enclave and voiced frustration with the Spanish government’s handling of the crisis.
As the rally ended, around 300 people headed toward the migrant camps. Police riot units moved quickly to block their path and set up a security cordon between the protesters and migrants.
The situation soon turned violent. Both sides threw stones as police tried to keep them apart. Officers used tear gas and warning shots to push the crowds back and prevent a direct confrontation.
Some protesters reached the makeshift camps and tried to force migrants out. Witnesses and Spanish media reports said several tents were overturned, while some migrants’ belongings were thrown into the sea. Beach umbrellas and other facilities near the Benítez desalination plant also suffered damage.
The unrest did not remain confined to the beaches. Clashes and confrontations later spread to other parts of Ceuta, with reports of migrants chased through streets, damaged property, and blocked roads.
Protesters take to the streets
The demonstration began between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., with more than 2,000 people gathering with Spanish and Ceuta flags.
The crowd called for the expulsion of migrants and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ceuta Government Delegate Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano.
The protest came as senior officials met to discuss the crisis. Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres chaired the meeting, which also included Migration Minister Elma Saiz, Ceuta President Juan Vivas, and the government delegate.
Police stopped protesters from reaching the main part of the El Trampolín camp. Some then moved toward Hadú, where several migrants fled as the crowd approached.
Officers also stepped in after protesters confronted people they believed had arrived from Morocco during the July influx.
One incident highlighted the volatile atmosphere. A man took shelter inside a bakery after a protester accused him of being a “Moroccan spy” because he was filming the demonstration on his phone. Police later escorted him from the area.
The Government Delegation also came under pressure. Protesters threw eggs at the building as police secured its entrances. Several businesses closed their shutters as the situation grew more tense.
The unrest continued into the early hours. In El Zurrón, protesters overturned garbage containers and placed them across roads, further disrupting movement through the city.
Four soldiers hurt in separate attack
Hours later, at around 5:30 a.m. Thursday, another confrontation occurred in Benzú.
A group of between 30 and 40 migrants allegedly threw stones at a vehicle that carried four Spanish soldiers, according to Spanish media reports.
The soldiers left the vehicle and fled on foot toward Calamocarro as the group continued to pursue them and throw stones, El Faro de Ceuta reported.
All four soldiers received medical attention for injuries, bruising, and pain in their arms and backs.
Spanish reports have focused on the injuries suffered by the soldiers. Videos shared on social media, however, appear to show a migrant lying on the ground. The accounts that posted the footage claimed that Spanish security forces had thrown him down, although those claims have not been independently verified.
The National Police and Civil Guard arrested 12 Moroccan nationals over the alleged attack. Initial reports placed their ages between 35 and 40.
Several others reportedly escaped, with some entering the sea. The Civil Guard’s maritime unit launched a search for those who fled.
The latest violence adds another layer to an already tense situation in Ceuta, where the mass arrivals at the end of July continue to strain local authorities and fuel political and public debate over migration policy.
