Ceuta: Four Moroccans arrested after another attack against Spanish soldiers

Moroccan nationals, including a minor, were arrested in Ceuta after a stone-throwing attack on a Spanish military patrol overnight Friday to Saturday. A sergeant sustained minor injuries. The incident comes two days after an attack on a military vehicle in Benzú, for which twelve people were arrested. These events occur while several thousand migrants remain in the Spanish enclave following the massive influx of tens of thousands of people from Morocco on July 30.

Four people were arrested in the Chorrillo beach area of central Ceuta after stones were thrown at a military patrol. According to sources at the Spanish Interior Ministry cited by the EFE news agency, the incident occurred at dawn on Saturday. Soldiers were intervening to disperse a group of migrants who were causing a disturbance. Some members of the group appeared to be intoxicated. The situation escalated into a confrontation when stones were thrown at the soldiers.

A second attack in just a few days

A sergeant was injured after being struck by a projectile and falling to the ground. Sources from the Spanish Ministry of Defense, cited by EFE, reported a minor injury, including a head wound. The National Police and the Guardia Civil were subsequently mobilized. Four Moroccans, including a minor, were detained as part of the investigation. Authorities are continuing their inquiries to determine the possible involvement of others.

This incident comes after an initial attack against Spanish soldiers on Thursday morning in the Benzú area. A group of approximately 30 to 40 people surrounded a vehicle carrying four soldiers before throwing large stones at it. The soldiers managed to leave the area and called emergency services. Four soldiers were injured in the attack.

Thousands of migrants still present in Ceuta

The National Police and the Guardia Civil made twelve arrests. The Association of Spanish Troops and Navy (ATME) called for increased protection for military personnel deployed in Ceuta. The organization also demanded that military personnel be granted the status of law enforcement officers while on duty. It requested additional protective equipment and psychological support for the personnel involved. These incidents occurred as Ceuta continues to grapple with the consequences of the massive influx of migrants recorded on July 30.

According to Reuters, more than 72,000 people crossed the border from Morocco during this period, while the death toll stood at 82 on the Spanish side and 14 confirmed deaths on the Moroccan side. Many of those who entered the enclave subsequently returned to Morocco. The week following the arrivals, Spanish authorities estimated that several thousand people were still living on the streets of Ceuta. The EFE news agency reported in early August that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remained in the city, including more than a thousand minors, according to local authorities.

Between 5,000 and 8,000 people are still present in Ceuta

The number of people present subsequently fluctuated as people returned and the authorities initiated procedures. At the end of August, Reuters estimated that between 5,000 and 8,000 people remained in Ceuta. Some of them live in makeshift camps, particularly near Trampolín beach. The migrant reception center is also under considerable pressure: Reuters reported in mid-August that it was housing approximately 700 people, about 200 more than its capacity.

Faced with this situation, the Spanish government has officially requested assistance from the European Union. Madrid has asked for the intervention of Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, particularly to help with the processing and identification of migrants in the enclave. Spain has also requested the deployment of ten additional Frontex officers. This Spanish request comes as the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum serves as the framework for the European Union's migration policy.

A reinforced military presence

The plan includes solidarity mechanisms between Member States, operational support from European agencies, and enhanced cooperation with partner countries on border management. The European Commission had already stepped up its monitoring of the situation in Ceuta following the mass arrivals in July. European authorities have been monitoring reception conditions, health issues, and the situation of people living in camps within the enclave.

Humanitarian organizations continue to provide food and material aid to migrants who have not left Ceuta. The Spanish army was deployed alongside security forces during the massive influx on July 30. According to Reuters, Madrid sent 60 soldiers and 200 specialized police officers to reinforce local security. Spanish forces were mobilized around the border perimeter and coastal areas used for maritime entry.