Police in Ceuta forcibly dispersed a large group of migrants on Monday after tension mounted for days near a temporary camp on the outskirts of the city. National Police officers fired warning shots into the air as hundreds resisted efforts to clear a queue that had grown to more than a thousand people. The operation followed rising security concerns, including reports of fights and thefts. Sexual assaults were also alleged in the area at night.
The encampment had formed outside a large parking lot in Loma Colmenar, where the army had set up tents to provide migrants with basic shelter and food, along with hygiene facilities. Many had been waiting for up to ten days, hoping to secure a place inside the camp. Rumors spread among the group that entry would lead to expedited residency papers for Europe, but authorities confirmed this was false. The tents had limited capacity, initially just 25 large units with bunk beds, leaving most migrants outside and fueling frustration and long lines.
On the morning of the police intervention, the army opened a new large white tent, allowing several hundred more migrants inside. Most, but, remained outside, heightening anxiety and unrest. Police formed a cordon around the area as municipal cleaning crews began removing the large amount of rubbish that had accumulated during the prolonged wait. A senior local police official said the number of migrants in the neighborhood had reached as many as 5,000 at its peak, significantly disrupting life for nearby residents.
Local residents, many of whom are Muslim and Arabic-speaking, had provided migrants with food and hygiene products. They also voiced concern about the disturbances and called for the camp’s removal. After being cleared from Loma Colmenar, migrants displaced from earlier makeshift shelters, including the Trampolín beach shanties, were left searching for new places to stay. Ahmed, 29, one of the group’s informal leaders, voiced frustration at being repeatedly moved on by authorities.
The incident follows a series of recent tensions in Ceuta related to the migrant situation. In an earlier episode, police had to intervene at the Loma Colmenar site after clashes erupted, as detailed in a recent report on the dismantling of a nearby migrant camp. The area, once used as a waiting zone for vehicles heading to Morocco, has been repurposed by the government to address the humanitarian needs of new arrivals. The rapid influx has strained local resources and increased tensions between migrants and residents.
Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has faced repeated waves of migration in recent years, creating complex challenges for local authorities. Its proximity to Morocco makes it a frequent entry point for people seeking to reach Europe. Managing large-scale arrivals means balancing humanitarian support with public order, while also addressing community concerns.
