Ceuta’s migration crisis spilled into a direct confrontation on Wednesday night as protesters entered the makeshift migrant camp at El Trampolín beach, tore down shelters and threw belongings into the sea, forcing Spanish riot police to separate residents and migrants.
The confrontation followed a march of more than 2,000 people against the Spanish government’s handling of the crisis. Starting from the Military Hospital, demonstrators crossed several parts of the city before gathering outside the Spanish government delegation, calling for the expulsion of newly arrived migrants and the resignation of the government delegate and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The march itself passed largely without incident. But a group later broke away and headed towards El Trampolín, where hundreds of migrants remain camped. Videos shared on social media showed dozens moving towards the beach while chanting “this is our beach” and “invaders out”.
Tents torn down, belongings thrown into sea
Several protesters made their way onto part of the beach, overturning tents and makeshift shelters and throwing blankets, mattresses and other belongings into the sea. Stones were also reportedly thrown as the group attempted to approach the section where most migrants had gathered.
The migrants regrouped and confronted the protesters verbally, prompting Spanish National Police riot units to position themselves between the two sides.
Claims circulated on social media that residents had completely “evacuated” the beach. Videos from the scene and police accounts cited by Spanish media instead showed an attempted eviction by protesters that was stopped by security forces. Police blocked access to the main camp area and kept the two groups apart.
Several loud bangs were heard during the confrontation. Spanish media later reported that police had fired warning or deterrent shots to contain the crowd and prevent the situation from developing into a direct clash. There was no indication that live ammunition was used or that anyone was injured by the shots.
Migrants temporarily withdrew towards the jetty before gradually returning to the beach after the protesters left. Part of the camp had by then been ransacked.
Nearly 1,000 returned after August 20 clearance
Wednesday’s confrontation came less than a week after authorities attempted to clear El Trampolín, which had developed into one of Ceuta’s largest makeshift migrant camps following the mass arrivals at the end of July.
Around 1,700 people left the beach on August 20 under an operation presented by Spanish authorities as voluntary. Migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were transferred to Loma Margarita, while Maghrebi migrants were moved to El Embolsamiento in Loma Colmenar.
Municipal teams then moved in with machinery to dismantle shelters, remove tons of waste and clean the beach.
The clearance did not hold. Hundreds of migrants began returning within hours of the operation, and after police withdrew, nearly 1,000 people had again settled across different sections of El Trampolín.
Tents and improvised shelters reappeared, along with food waste, bottles, bags and packaging around the camp and the area used for daily food distribution.
Violence spreads beyond El Trampolín
The beach had already seen unrest a day earlier. Police used riot-control measures during clashes among migrants at a food distribution organized by the Red Cross on Tuesday. Police sources cited by EFE described the intervention as limited and deterrent in nature and said no injuries were reported.
Hours after Wednesday night’s confrontation, another serious incident was reported in Benzú.
Twelve Moroccan migrants were arrested over an alleged attack that left four soldiers injured. According to information from the police headquarters cited by Europa Press, a group of between 30 and 40 people surrounded and pelted a military vehicle with stones at around 5.30 a.m. as the soldiers travelled to a surveillance post.
The four soldiers were forced to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot while stones continued to be thrown at them. All four suffered injuries or bruising.
Police remained deployed at El Trampolín on Thursday morning, with parts of the beach still occupied by migrants.
