Stampede breaks out as migrants are relocated from beaches in Spain's Ceuta, police fire warning shots

A stampede broke out on Friday in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, on the north coast of Africa, as authorities began relocating migrants from local beaches. Police fired warning shots into the air, and several people were reportedly injured. Around 150 officers were deployed to oversee the operation, which involved moving people from a camp on Benitez beach, located next to the much larger Campo del Trampolín camp.

Hundreds of migrants had already gathered on the beaches before the operation even began. At one point, when only a handful of Civil Guard units remained in the area, people suddenly ran toward the port, triggering a stampede along the seafront promenade. Order was only restored once reinforcements arrived, after which the relocation process finally got underway. According to reports, the migrants — mostly men — greeted the start of the move with applause.

Tens of thousands arrived from Morocco

Between July 30 and 31, tens of thousands of people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco — according to revised estimates from Spanish authorities, as many as 80,000 attempted the crossing. The Spanish government now estimates that around 9,000 to 10,000 migrants remain in Ceuta following that mass influx.

About 6,000 of them have already been placed in temporary reception centers, while 3,000 to 4,000 people are still living without shelter — on the streets, on beaches, and in other makeshift spots, according to the Spanish news agency EFE. Even a newly reopened reception center at the port, with capacity for roughly 1,700 people, won't be enough to house everyone in need.

Right-wing critics accuse authorities of losing control

Representatives of the right-wing opposition slammed the chaotic scenes that unfolded during Friday's relocation effort, calling them proof that the authorities are unable to keep order in Ceuta. The Spanish government has rejected these accusations, insisting the situation is under control and being handled effectively.

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Source: novinky.cz