Violent Clashes Erupt in Ceuta Amidst Migrant Protests
On Wednesday evening, Ceuta became a hotspot for unrest as violent clashes erupted between protesters and migrants near the popular beaches of El Trampolín and Benítez. This turmoil stemmed from a concerted effort by approximately 300 individuals who attempted to dismantle makeshift camps where migrants, who had entered the city during the mass crossings on July 30 and 31, were seeking refuge. The situation escalated quickly, with a significant demonstration, drawing over 2,000 participants, calling for the deportation of migrants while vehemently criticizing the Spanish government's handling of the ongoing crisis. The protests quickly spread to various neighborhoods, leading to the harassment of migrants, acts of vandalism, and road blockages that persisted into the late hours of the night.
Protesters, fueled by their demands, sought to reach the migrant camps, tearing down tents and hurling personal belongings into the sea. Additionally, beach facilities in close proximity to the Benítez desalination plant suffered vandalism at the hands of the demonstrators. In response to the chaos, riot police were deployed in significant numbers, creating a buffer zone to separate the protesters from the migrants. Tensions escalated further when stones were thrown from both sides, prompting law enforcement to resort to tear gas and warning shots in an attempt to disperse the increasingly volatile crowds.
Protesters Call for Government Accountability
The protest, which unfolded between 6 and 7 p.m., saw participants waving Spanish and Ceuta flags, chanting slogans demanding the deportation of migrants alongside calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and city government delegate Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano. Notably, this demonstration coincided with a crisis management meeting led by Territorial Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, which included Migration Minister Elma Saiz, Ceuta President Juan Vivas, and the government delegate.
As tensions flared, some demonstrators resorted to throwing eggs at the Government Delegation headquarters, prompting police to secure the building. Incidents of vandalism were reported, including damage to a taxi on Gran Vía and the closure of several businesses due to the escalating unrest. Throughout the night, disturbances continued in multiple areas of the city, particularly in the El Zurrón neighborhood, where protesters upended rubbish containers, effectively blocking roads.
In a separate incident early Thursday morning, around 5:30 a.m. in Benzú, a group of 30 to 40 migrants targeted a military vehicle with stones, as reported by Spanish media outlets. According to reports from El Faro de Ceuta, the soldiers abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot to Calamocarro, while the assailants persisted in their aggression. The injured soldiers received treatment at a local health center, and social media footage depicted a migrant on the ground, with allegations that Spanish security forces had physically thrown him there. Subsequently, the National Police and Civil Guard apprehended 12 Moroccan individuals, aged between 35 and 40, believed to be involved in the attack, while others managed to escape, some even jumping into the sea, prompting a search by the Civil Guard’s maritime unit.
As reported by en.yabiladi.com.
