Ceuta protesters torch migrant camp as police fire tear gas amid Spain's migration crisis
In Ceuta, Spanish North African enclave, demonstrators set fire to a migrant emergency shelter at Benítez beach, forcing migrants to retreat to a jetty. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets, arresting 12 Moroccan nationals. The violence follows a mass influx of up to 80,000 migrants from Morocco in late July, with at least 96 deaths. Tens of thousands protested across Spain on September 2, accusing Prime Minister Sánchez of appeasement. About 1,500 unaccompanied minors remain.
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Tens of thousands protest in Spain over Ceuta migration crisis, accuse government of appeasement
On September 2, 2026, tens of thousands of Spaniards demonstrated across the country, including 50,000 in Madrid alone, over the ongoing migration crisis in the North African exclave of Ceuta. Protesters and speakers, including opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the conservative People's Party, accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's central government of pursuing a policy of appeasement toward Morocco and providing insufficient aid. In Ceuta, thousands demanded a return to normality under Spanish flags, with banners reading 'Ceuta does not surrender.' The protests, called by the umbrella organization FEMP of Spanish municipalities, also involved the right-wing populist Vox party. Late in the evening, police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse extremist groups near the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, arresting four demonstrators and injuring four officers. The crisis began on July 30-31 when at least 72,000 migrants entered Ceuta, with around 5,000 still present a month later, straining local resources and leading to repeated demonstrations and attacks on migrants.
Protests erupt across Spain demanding return of 10,000 migrants stranded in Ceuta
Protests have erupted across Spain, with demonstrators demanding that approximately 10,000 migrants still stranded in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta be returned to their countries of origin. The protests reflect growing public tension over the ongoing migrant situation in Ceuta, a North African territory that has become a focal point for migration into Europe. The exact number of migrants, cited as roughly 10,000, highlights the scale of the humanitarian and political challenge facing Spanish authorities. The demands for repatriation underscore a contentious debate within Spain over immigration policy and border management. The situation in Ceuta has drawn international attention, as the enclave's location makes it a key entry point for migrants attempting to reach European soil. The protests indicate significant domestic pressure on the Spanish government to address the status of these migrants, who remain in a state of limbo. Further developments are expected as authorities respond to the public outcry.
Violent protests in Ceuta as right-wing extremists fuel anger over migrant influx
Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, has been experiencing violent protests for days following the arrival of approximately 70,000 migrants from Morocco one month ago. Right-wing extremists who traveled from mainland Spain have mixed with local residents, fueling public discontent. On Wednesday, demonstrators burned migrants' self-built huts on the beach, threw belongings into the sea, and blocked aid distribution. The environmental organization DAUBMA warns of armed individuals in balaclavas patrolling neighborhoods and attacking Spanish Muslims. Migrants remaining in the city sleep on streets and beaches, and some have attacked soldiers with stones, leading to arrests and deportations. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is facing mounting pressure from right-wing parties VOX and PP, who see the crisis as an opportunity to weaken his government ahead of next year's elections. Sánchez has agreed to answer questions in parliament about the situation. A major mobilization is planned for the day before his appearance.
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Protesters Set Fire to Migrant Camp in Ceuta; Police Respond with Tear Gas and Rubber Bullets
In the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta, protesters set fire to an emergency shelter housing migrants, demanding the immediate repatriation of all occupants to Morocco. Spanish police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. The incident highlights ongoing tensions over migration in the region, where Ceuta serves as a key entry point into Europe. The fire destroyed part of the camp, and authorities are investigating the arson. No casualties have been reported, but the situation remains volatile as local residents and anti-migrant groups clash with security forces over the presence of migrants in the enclave.
Protesters set fire to migrant emergency shelter in Ceuta; migrants forced to retreat
In the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta, demonstrators set fire to a migrant camp at Benítez beach, forcing migrants to retreat to a jetty. Police intervened to separate the groups. Earlier, protesters had blocked Red Cross vehicles delivering food and water. The incident is part of an ongoing crisis following a mass influx of up to 80,000 migrants from Morocco in late July, during which at least 96 died. While most returned, several thousand remain, including about 1,500 unaccompanied minors. The conservative opposition demands immediate deportations, but international treaties and Spanish court rulings prohibit collective expulsions. The left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces pressure, with contradictory statements from officials about whether intelligence services warned of the influx. Sánchez is scheduled to address parliament on September 3.
Protesters set fire to emergency shelter in Ceuta; police respond with tear gas and rubber bullets
In the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta, demonstrators set fire to a migrant camp at Benítez beach, where thousands of migrants have been camping since a mass influx in late July 2026. Protesters blocked Red Cross aid vehicles and chanted 'They must go!' Police used tear gas and rubber bullets to separate demonstrators from migrants, who retreated to a pier. Migrants later threw stones at a Spanish military vehicle, injuring one soldier; police arrested 12 Moroccan nationals. The crisis stems from up to 80,000 migrants arriving from Morocco in July, with at least 96 deaths reported. Residents blame migrants for security and hygiene issues. The Spanish government faces opposition pressure to deport the migrants, but international treaties prohibit collective deportations. About 1,500 unaccompanied minors remain, with 500 vulnerable girls to be moved to mainland Spain.