- Thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, leading to a chaotic situation at the border.
- During a sleepless night, migrants torched vehicles near the border; Reuters witnesses saw the charred remains of a bus and seven vehicles after clashes to stop the crowds.
- Moroccan authorities deployed water cannon trucks and reinforced security at the crossing-gates, while security forces kept turning back crowds through the night.
- Migrant Fatima Mahli, 23, waited with her two daughters after her husband left before dawn to try to swim to Ceuta.
- Migrant Brahim, 32, found the crossing gate effectively shut, while another migrant recalled being caught in a stampede and said, "I feared for my life."
- Spain's Socialist government recently launched a programme to grant legal status to some 500,000 undocumented migrants, drawing applications double that number.
Thousands of migrants surged into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco overnight, with estimates of 2,000 to 3,000 crossings reported by Spanish state television. The situation escalated as migrants clashed with authorities, leading to the torching of vehicles and the deployment of water cannons by Moroccan forces.
Moroccan authorities reinforced security at the crossing gates, attempting to push back migrants who regrouped in various locations. Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with one migrant stating, "I feared for my life" during a stampede. The unrest resulted in the recovery of nine bodies by authorities in Ceuta.458910
Fatima Mahli, a 23-year-old mother from Tetouan, shared her family's plight, saying, "I thought I could cross by foot through the border. But we are stuck here, unable to go back home". Her husband attempted to swim to Ceuta, highlighting the desperation of many migrants seeking a better life in Europe.67
Ceuta, along with Melilla, represents the European Union's only land border with Africa, and both cities frequently experience surges in migrant crossings. Spain's government, known for its pro-migrant stance, has recently initiated a program to provide legal status for 500,000 undocumented migrants, resulting in a significant increase in applications.11
“Spain sent military and police reinforcements after nine bodies were retrieved, while Moroccan forces deployed water cannon trucks through the night. A migrant caught in a stampede said, "I feared for my life," as Fatima Mahli, 23, waited with her two daughters after her husband tried to swim to Ceuta.”
