MADRID, Spain – Two Spanish soldiers have been evacuated from Ceuta and admitted to the Gomez Ulla Hospital in Madrid after suffering assaults by migrants while patrolling the streets of the autonomous city, the Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday. Marco Antonio Gomez, president of the Spanish Troop and Sailors Association, explained that one of them suffers a knee dislocation and the other a fractured fibula, which is a significant injury requiring surgery.
Two Civil Guards Assaulted And One Soldier Injured In Less Than 24 Hours In Ceuta
Gomez detailed that the assaults were not new but occurred last week, stating that the first assault occurred in a struggle with a migrant when the comrade intervened to prevent a crime and the second during the identification of another group of migrants. He added that Defence offered them the possibility of being transferred to the Gomez Ulla Hospital to be treated for those injuries and they accepted, describing it as a gesture by the ministry that they appreciate because the soldiers deployed in Ceuta are under a lot of pressure and long working days.
The evacuation of the two soldiers from Ceuta to Madrid took place last Tuesday, and Defence Minister Margarita Robles attended the Gomez Ulla Hospital on Thursday morning to visit the wounded and express her support and recognition. Both remain hospitalised but are progressing satisfactorily.
Migrant Arrested After Attempting To Stab Soldier In Ceuta
The ministry also expressed its support for the soldiers through a message on social media, stating full support for those wounded in recent weeks, some even admitted to the Gomez Ulla Hospital, after being victims of assaults while carrying out their work. Several soldiers have been victims of assaults by migrants who arrived in the autonomous city during the assault on the border at the end of July, and professional associations have repeatedly asked the government to allow them to use proportionate force given their situation of vulnerability in the face of such attacks.
