CEUTA, Spain – Tensions over the migration crisis in Ceuta escalated on Wednesday night as confrontations broke out between angry residents and police, with officers forced to fire warning shots into the air to disperse demonstrators. The disturbances began after thousands of Ceuta residents gathered at the Government Delegation to demand the expulsion of migrants still on the streets and the resignation of political leaders, chanting slogans such as “Illegals, expulsion!” and “Ceuta does not surrender!” along with insults against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
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As night fell, organised groups of residents attempted to forcibly dismantle makeshift migrant camps set up on El Trampolín beach, prompting riot police from the UIP to intervene to prevent them. The clashes continued in other parts of the city, where the most outraged Ceuta residents overturned rubbish containers and set up barricades in the streets.
National Police and Civil Guard officers guarded the access points to El Trampolín beach throughout the night to prevent residents from entering again and to protect the migrants camped there. The demonstrators expressed their frustration over a situation that, according to their complaints, continues to affect daily life in the city, with thousands of migrants still at various points in Ceuta and incidents related to fights and altercations that have increased the sense of insecurity among part of the population.
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The confrontations represent the most serious public order disturbance in Ceuta since the mass entry of migrants in late July, and highlight the growing desperation among residents who feel abandoned by authorities as the situation in the autonomous city continues to deteriorate. The government has called for calm, but tensions remain high as residents demand immediate action to address the ongoing crisis.
