National Police intervened in Ceuta to break up a massive migrant queue. Officers fired warning shots after unrest near a temporary camp. The operation followed days of tension and complaints from local residents.
Police in Ceuta forcibly dispersed a large group of migrants on Monday after days of mounting tension near a temporary camp on the city's outskirts. Officers from the National Police fired warning shots into the air as hundreds resisted efforts to clear a queue that had grown to over a thousand people. The operation was prompted by escalating security concerns, including reports of fights, thefts, and alleged sexual assaults 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 basic shelter, food, and hygiene facilities for migrants. Many had been waiting for up to ten days, hoping to secure a place inside the camp. Rumors had spread among the group that entry would lead to expedited residency papers for Europe, though authorities confirmed this was false. The limited capacity of the tents—initially just 25 large units with bunk beds—meant that most migrants were left outside, 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. However, the majority remained outside, leading to heightened anxiety and unrest. Police formed a cordon around the area as municipal cleaning crews began removing the large amounts of rubbish that had accumulated during the prolonged wait. According to a senior local police official, the number of migrants in the neighborhood had reached as many as 5,000 at its peak, creating significant disruption for nearby residents.
Local residents, many of whom are Muslim and Arabic-speaking, had provided food and hygiene products to the migrants but also expressed concern about the disturbances and called for the camp's removal. The migrants, displaced from previous makeshift shelters such as the Trampolín beach shanties, now found themselves searching for new places to stay after being cleared from Loma Colmenar. One of the informal leaders among the group, Ahmed, 29, voiced frustration at being repeatedly moved on by authorities.
This incident follows a series of recent tensions in Ceuta related to the migrant situation. In a previous episode, police were forced 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. However, the rapid influx has strained local resources and heightened tensions between migrants and residents.
Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has faced repeated waves of migration in recent years, often leading to complex challenges for local authorities. The city's proximity to Morocco makes it a frequent entry point for those seeking to reach Europe. The latest events underscore the ongoing difficulties in managing large-scale arrivals and balancing humanitarian support with public order and community concerns.
