Ceuta residents stormed migrant encampments Wednesday night as anger over Spain's border crisis boiled over, with crowds tearing through makeshift shelters and police rushing in to stop the conflicts. The chaos followed a massive protest against the leftist Spanish government of Pedro Sanchez's handling of the crisis after nearly 80,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish enclave from Morocco on July 30 and 31, according to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
Thousands of residents marched through Ceuta carrying Spanish flags and chanting "Ceuta se defiende" before parts of the crowd turned their attention to the migrant camps. Protesters were also heard making chants against Sanchez, using vulgarities.
Groups moved toward the Trampolin beach encampment as police deployed riot officers and blocked access to the migrants. Some residents reached the beach and destroyed makeshift tents, while blankets and mattresses were reportedly thrown into the sea. Video showed some protesters setting fire to "migrant shacks," according to video posted by Spanish journalist David Santos.
Police fired rubber bullets to keep the crowds away and prevent a larger confrontation.
The protest did not stay contained to the beach. Residents also moved through the Hadú neighborhood, where migrants reportedly fled as crowds approached. Another group blocked a major road near the port by dragging containers into the roadway. "We can't go out, the children can't get to school, we can't go out feeling safe," one resident said, according to EuroNews.
The president of the San Daniel neighborhood association said Ceuta's public services were being pushed beyond their limits. "Our police, our ambulances, our cleaning services, can't cope," the official said.
The latest unrest came after police attempted to clear the Trampolín camp on August 20, moving more than 1,200 migrants from the beach. Hundreds reportedly returned within hours and the encampment began to rebuild.
The migrant crisis has now triggered two straight nights of protests and repeated clashes in Ceuta, with anger also being directed at journalists covering the unrest.
A La Sexta reporter and cameraman were surrounded Tuesday by residents shouting, "Fuera, fuera!" (Get out!). Footage reportedly showed the journalists being insulted and shoved before police intervened.
On Wednesday, demonstrators also targeted an RTVE crew outside a government meeting involving senior Spanish officials and Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas. "They are doing their job, just like the State's law-enforcement agencies," the Movimiento por la Dignidad y la Ciudadanía party said.
The crisis has also turned violent against Spanish military personnel. Four soldiers were injured in an early morning ambush in the Benzu area after a group of between 30 and 40 people surrounded their vehicle and began hurling large rocks.
The soldiers abandoned the unarmored vehicle and fled on foot as they were chased toward Calamocarro. Police and Civil Guard officers later arrested 12 Moroccan nationals. Several suspects reportedly jumped into the sea in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Authorities have identified around 1,500 minors among those who entered Ceuta during the mass crossings, after initially reporting 2,168 before duplicate records were removed. Reports state that most of the 80,000 who crossed went back of their own accord, with many falling for a misinformation campaign that stated they could get Spanish citizenship if they crossed over.
Thousands of residents marched through Ceuta carrying Spanish flags and chanting "Ceuta se defiende" before parts of the crowd turned their attention to the migrant camps. Protesters were also heard making chants against Sanchez, using vulgarities.
Groups moved toward the Trampolin beach encampment as police deployed riot officers and blocked access to the migrants. Some residents reached the beach and destroyed makeshift tents, while blankets and mattresses were reportedly thrown into the sea. Video showed some protesters setting fire to "migrant shacks," according to video posted by Spanish journalist David Santos.
Police fired rubber bullets to keep the crowds away and prevent a larger confrontation.
The protest did not stay contained to the beach. Residents also moved through the Hadú neighborhood, where migrants reportedly fled as crowds approached. Another group blocked a major road near the port by dragging containers into the roadway. "We can't go out, the children can't get to school, we can't go out feeling safe," one resident said, according to EuroNews.
The president of the San Daniel neighborhood association said Ceuta's public services were being pushed beyond their limits. "Our police, our ambulances, our cleaning services, can't cope," the official said.
The latest unrest came after police attempted to clear the Trampolín camp on August 20, moving more than 1,200 migrants from the beach. Hundreds reportedly returned within hours and the encampment began to rebuild.
The migrant crisis has now triggered two straight nights of protests and repeated clashes in Ceuta, with anger also being directed at journalists covering the unrest.
A La Sexta reporter and cameraman were surrounded Tuesday by residents shouting, "Fuera, fuera!" (Get out!). Footage reportedly showed the journalists being insulted and shoved before police intervened.
On Wednesday, demonstrators also targeted an RTVE crew outside a government meeting involving senior Spanish officials and Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas. "They are doing their job, just like the State's law-enforcement agencies," the Movimiento por la Dignidad y la Ciudadanía party said.
The crisis has also turned violent against Spanish military personnel. Four soldiers were injured in an early morning ambush in the Benzu area after a group of between 30 and 40 people surrounded their vehicle and began hurling large rocks.
The soldiers abandoned the unarmored vehicle and fled on foot as they were chased toward Calamocarro. Police and Civil Guard officers later arrested 12 Moroccan nationals. Several suspects reportedly jumped into the sea in an attempt to avoid arrest.
Authorities have identified around 1,500 minors among those who entered Ceuta during the mass crossings, after initially reporting 2,168 before duplicate records were removed. Reports state that most of the 80,000 who crossed went back of their own accord, with many falling for a misinformation campaign that stated they could get Spanish citizenship if they crossed over.
