Spanish Locals Torch Ceuta Migrant Camp As Tensions Boil Over

Furious residents in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta have torched a makeshift migrant camp following a mass border breach, according to GB News reports. Demonstrators descended on the beachside encampment on Thursday, tearing it apart and setting it ablaze as tensions reached boiling point.

The violent clashes erupt nearly a month after more than 70,000 people stormed the border from Morocco into the Spanish North African exclave. Footage broadcast on Spanish television showed flag-waving protesters throwing migrants’ belongings into the sea and setting fire to tents on Benítez beach.

Police intervened to separate demonstrators from migrants, who retreated towards a nearby pier. Earlier on Thursday, a military vehicle was attacked with stones and other objects by a group of about 70 people, a police spokesman in Ceuta told the AFP news agency. Local protesters also attempted to block Red Cross vehicles from delivering food and water to the encampment.

• Over 70,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta in late July during a massive border surge.
• Thousands of migrants remain stranded in the enclave, straining local public services.
• Protesters waved Spanish flags and demanded immediate deportations.
• Spain’s government faces intense criticism from the political opposition over the handling of the crisis.

The public services of Ceuta, which has a population of approximately 84,000, have experienced extreme strain since the initial influx. While the vast majority of those who crossed in July have returned or been processed, several thousand remain living rough on streets and beaches.

The center-left government in Madrid has faced severe pressure from the conservative opposition, who accuse authorities of abandoning local residents. In response, Spain’s cabinet has established a single command structure aimed at accelerating repatriations and restoring order to the territory.

Original source: Read the full report at GB News