Ceuta Police Fire Shots Moving 4,000 Migrants to 1,700-Bed Port Camp
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Sep 18
Ceuta Police Fire Shots Moving 4,000 Migrants to 1,700-Bed Port Camp
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Sep 18
Summary
Spanish authorities on Friday began moving more than 4,000 migrants from Ceuta’s Trampolín and Benítez beaches to a new port camp, with police firing warning shots as crowds surged for limited places.
The transfer became hard to control when groups merged en route and some ran ahead after weeks living on beaches and streets, while the fifth temporary site offers beds and showers for only about 1,700 people.
Thursday’s court ruling let the port camp proceed, rejecting a police union bid to halt tent installations at what it called critical infrastructure, though union and city officials still warned the site is unsafe and improvised.
The move is part of Spain’s response to a crisis that began in late July, when more than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, straining local reception capacity.
Madrid is also pushing to bind Ceuta and Melilla more closely to the EU through more Frontex presence, customs-union work and tailored treatment in the bloc’s next budget.