MADRID, Spain – At least 21 Moroccan migrants have been detained in Ceuta over the past hours for their alleged involvement in a fresh incident in which stones were hurled at a military patrol and Civil Guard officers, authorities have confirmed. The incident occurred on Saturday night in the vicinity of Trampolín beach, one of the areas where hundreds of migrants who arrived during the mass entry at the end of July remain concentrated. No injuries were reported, according to police sources.
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The confrontation began when a group of migrants who were reportedly involved in altercations among themselves started throwing stones at a nearby Armed Forces patrol. Civil Guard officers intervened to control the situation but were also met with a barrage of projectiles. The operation concluded with the detention of 21 individuals, who were placed at the disposal of the authorities. The detainees, all of whom lacked prior criminal records, were given the choice between voluntarily returning to Morocco or giving a statement before the corresponding court, and all opted to return to their country.
The incident has drawn a sharp response from military associations. The Association of Spanish Troops and Seamen expressed regret over the events on Sunday, asserting that such attacks against the Armed Forces are recurring because personnel are not invested with sufficient authority to carry out their work effectively and decisively. The union’s criticism adds to mounting frustration among security forces operating in the enclave, who have faced repeated confrontations with migrant groups since the unprecedented border breach in late July.
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The new outbreak of violence comes more than a month after the mass entry of migrants into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July, when tens of thousands of people crossed into the Spanish city from Morocco. Although the majority returned voluntarily in the days that followed, thousands of migrants remain in Ceuta, with many still camping in makeshift settlements along the coastline. The continued presence of large groups has placed immense strain on local resources and heightened tensions between the migrant population, local residents and security forces. Saturday’s stoning is the latest in a series of skirmishes that have punctuated the post-crisis period, underscoring the fragility of the situation and the challenges facing Spanish authorities as they seek to restore order and manage the residual migrant population while maintaining security along the border.
