Hundreds of residents took to the streets of Ceuta on Wednesday to protest the situation in the Spanish-occupied city following the arrival of tens of thousands of people from Morocco through the Tarajal maritime crossing at the end of July. Local outlet Ceuta al Día reported that most protesters carried Spanish flags, while some also […] The post Ceuta residents protest migrant influx as 12 Moroccans arrested appeared first on HESPRESS English - Morocco News .
Hundreds of residents took to the streets of Ceuta on Wednesday to protest the situation in the Spanish-occupied city following the arrival of tens of thousands of people from Morocco through the Tarajal maritime crossing at the end of July.
Local outlet Ceuta al Día reported that most protesters carried Spanish flags, while some also displayed the flag of Ceuta. Demonstrators gathered from several areas of the city, including O’Donnell, Sarchinero and Benzú, before converging at the Campo gates and marching toward Plaza de los Reyes, outside the government delegation.
Protesters reportedly chanted slogans calling for the Spanish government to resign. The demonstration escalated when a participant threw an egg at the government delegation building, according to the newspaper.
The protest coincided with a meeting of the Unified Command, chaired by Regional Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres and attended by Inclusion, Social Security and Migration Minister Elma Saiz, Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas and other senior officials.
Some demonstrators later headed toward El Trampolín beach, where migrants who had arrived from Morocco were staying. Police deployed around the beach to prevent a direct confrontation between the two groups after tensions escalated and stones were reportedly thrown, El Faro de Ceuta reported.
The tensions continued overnight.
Spain’s authorities arrested 12 Moroccan nationals early Thursday on suspicion of taking part in an attack that injured four soldiers in the Benzú area, according to Spanish news agency Europa Press.
Between 30 and 40 people allegedly ambushed the soldiers and threw large stones at them, according to police officials cited by the agency. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify other people allegedly involved in the attack.
The Ceuta government called for calm and urged residents not to further escalate tensions amid the continuing migrant crisis.
Meanwhile, three Spanish ministers are due to appear before Parliament on Thursday to provide explanations about the government’s handling of the situation. They are Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament Minister Félix Bolaños; Regional Policy Minister Ángel Víctor Torres, who heads the Unified Command coordinating the government’s response; and Health Minister Mónica García.
According to Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, the ministers will address the crisis following the first Unified Command meeting with Ceuta’s president.
The meeting resulted in a decision to exclude indoor sports facilities from the list of public sites designated for the temporary accommodation of migrants.
The latest developments come as Spanish authorities continue to deal with the aftermath of the mass migrant arrivals, which have placed additional pressure on Ceuta’s border controls, reception facilities and public services.
The post Ceuta residents protest migrant influx as 12 Moroccans arrested appeared first on HESPRESS English - Morocco News.
Follow the story
