Emergency crews responding to a fire in an illegal settlement near Ceuta’s Príncipe district were attacked with stones late at night. The incident left one Guardia Civil officer with a bruise and damaged several police vehicles, adding to the risks first responders face in the area.
The attack happened around 23:30 on the Arroyo de las Bombas path, close to the Agrupacion Fuerte crossing. Police sources told ABC that teams arrived after reports of a fire in a makeshift camp occupied by migrants who had entered Ceuta during the recent mass border crossing. As soon as they reached the scene, a group began throwing large stones at them without warning.
The injured officer did not need medical leave. No suspects have been detained or identified. Authorities are investigating whether the attackers are Moroccan nationals living in the nearby camp. The absence of arrests illustrates the difficulty police face operating in these tense areas.
This was not the first such incident. Just days earlier, 21 migrants were deported to Morocco after being caught throwing stones at security forces and military personnel near Trampolín beach. That confrontation followed a fight between two groups of Moroccans, which quickly escalated and drew in state forces. EFE and other local media reported that all those detained in the earlier incident were Moroccan nationals.
Since the mass entry into Ceuta on July 30 and 31, security forces have faced repeated ambushes and organized resistance from groups living in illegal settlements. These attacks have become a regular part of the crisis, stretching the ability of local authorities to keep order and protect both residents and emergency workers.
The ongoing instability in Ceuta has already led to legal and political fallout, as covered in a previous investigation into government accountability and border management. The repeated targeting of police and firefighters puts public safety at risk and shows the limits of current enforcement strategies.
Emergency crews are now working in high-risk zones without effective deterrence or rapid-response systems to prevent these attacks. Police officers and firefighters can be assaulted while on duty, with no immediate consequences for those responsible, pointing to a breakdown in both security and policy. Until authorities take concrete steps to secure these areas and address the causes of the violence, Ceuta will remain a place where law enforcement and emergency workers operate under constant threat.
