Spanish soldiers stationed in Ceuta are now required to patrol with individual weapons after a series of violent attacks left several injured and in hospital. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that those hurt were taken to the Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez Ulla, with injuries including knee sprains and a fractured fibula. At least two soldiers remain hospitalised, and one has undergone surgery, information from official statements reported by Spanish media.
The change in patrol policy follows growing concern from the Asociación de Tropa y Marinería Española (ATME). Its president, Estructura Antonio Gómez, has publicly warned that attacks are becoming more frequent and severe. He says the perpetrators, identified as undocumented migrants, act with a sense of impunity, viewing the lack of immediate consequences as encouragement for further violence. The most recent serious assault happened in the Juan XXIII area on the night of September 12, when a soldier suffered a fractured fibula and shoulder injuries after falling onto rocks during an attack.
At least nine attacks on soldiers in Ceuta have been documented since late August, involving stones and bladed weapons, with corrosive liquids also reported.
Gómez says the escalation has forced a change in patrol rules. Previously, only one member of each patrol was allowed to carry a weapon, a measure introduced after earlier border incidents. Now, every soldier on patrol is authorised to be armed, reflecting the increased risk and need for quick self-defence. Several independent publications have confirmed the change, citing defence ministry sources.
Security officials report that some attackers have set traps to avoid identification or arrest, making it harder to maintain order. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Gómez points out that soldiers still have no clear instructions for responding to an attack, leaving each to decide how to act. This lack of a unified protocol exposes personnel to physical danger and legal uncertainty. The ATME has called for military personnel to be recognised as law enforcement agents and their profession to be officially classified as high-risk, citing the rising number and severity of assaults.
Some suspects have been detained, but others remain at large. The Ministry has not issued specific warnings about a possible new mass crossing, though patrols have increased. Gómez notes that the government is keeping sensitive information tightly controlled, with no official confirmation of any imminent large-scale incident.
The Sumar party has publicly called for an investigation into allegations of possible abuses by military personnel against migrants in Ceuta. The call reflects a parallel debate over the conduct of both sides and institutional tensions, with political actors also drawn into the debate over relations between the military and the defence ministry.
Some groups of undocumented migrants have reportedly organised and coordinated attacks and ambushes against both the military and state security forces. The pattern of violence has prompted urgent debate within defence circles over the adequacy of current measures and the risks faced by personnel. Several independent reports describe incidents over several weeks, during which soldiers were repeatedly injured as security measures gradually tightened.
Recent changes in Spanish security policy are not limited to Ceuta. Leadership disputes have also affected law enforcement elsewhere, as seen in the recent resignation of the Catalan police chief after a leadership clash.
The decision to arm all patrolling soldiers individually marks a clear shift from previous practice. The lack of clear operational guidance remains a concern, leaving frontline personnel to manage a volatile environment with limited support. Without clear rules of engagement, the risk to military and civilian safety in Ceuta is likely to remain high.
