Reports from Ceuta, the Spanish enclave in North Africa, describe residents pursuing migrants through the city as police fail to contain the situation. The unrest follows a mass influx of thousands of migrants from Morocco in recent days, overwhelming local authorities and prompting a humanitarian emergency.
The migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta escalated Thursday evening, with residents pursuing migrants through the streets as local police struggled to regain control, according to reports from the scene. The unrest came after days of mass crossings from Morocco, which overwhelmed the city's reception capacity.
Earlier on Thursday, the governor of Ceuta declared a humanitarian and social emergency, stating that more than 1,500 migrants had arrived by sea in the past week. Reception centers for unaccompanied minors were operating at 2,400% capacity, he said. The governor called on the national government to assist and criticized a recent Supreme Court ruling that prevents immediate repatriation of migrants who arrive by sea.
Moroccan media reported that up to 30,000 people may have crossed into Ceuta in recent days, according to reports. The Spanish Interior Minister refused the governor's request to declare a state of emergency, leaving local authorities to manage the crisis with police resources. By evening, videos circulated showing residents confronting migrants and police attempting to contain the chaos.
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