Residents of Ceuta are reportedly chasing migrants through the city, with Spanish police so far failing to control the situation, according to reports. The unrest adds to the ongoing migrant crisis in the Spanish enclave.
The unrest in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta escalated Thursday evening, with residents chasing migrants through the city as Spanish police struggled to regain control of the streets, according to reports. The situation marks a further deterioration in a day of mounting crisis, as local authorities remain unable to contain the public anger.
Earlier Thursday, the Ceuta governor declared a humanitarian and social emergency after over 1,500 migrants arrived from Morocco, overwhelming reception centers. When the Spanish interior minister rejected the governor's request for a state of emergency, residents took to the streets, with some attempting to confront what they described as 'invaders,' as The Zioneer reported at 14:00 Jerusalem. The government later announced a troop deployment to secure the border, but by evening the police had not restored order, and residents were actively pursuing migrants through the enclave's streets.
The crisis unfolds against a backdrop of broader migration pressures on Spain. As The Zioneer reported on June 30, Spain received 1.3 million applications for its mass regularization program, far exceeding expectations. A former Spanish police official has also claimed the government plans to regularize up to 6 million undocumented migrants. Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the African coast, has long been a flashpoint for irregular migration, with the current events reflecting deep frustration among residents who feel the central government in Madrid has not adequately addressed the surge.
It remains unclear whether the promised troop deployment will arrive in time to calm the situation, and the exact number of migrants still present in the city has not been independently confirmed. The extent of injuries or property damage has not been reported.
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