Stones thrown at Spanish soldiers in Ceuta again: 4 arrests

It was the second such incident within a few days. According to authorities, around 70 migrants threw stones at a Spanish military vehicle on Thursday. One soldier was injured and twelve Moroccans were arrested. According to local media reports, eleven of them have now been deported to Morocco.

Also on Thursday there were clashes in Ceuta between the police and demonstrators who were demanding that the remaining migrants leave the country. Personal belongings were set on fire on a beach used as a camp by migrants.

More than 72,000 people came to Ceuta

On July 30th and 31st, more than 72,000 people, mostly Moroccans, arrived on foot or by swimming from Morocco to Ceuta. Most returned or were returned shortly afterwards. According to the Spanish central government, around 5,000 migrants are still in the exclave, while local authorities estimate there are around 10,000.

According to official information, at least 91 people died in the stampede, including 80 on the Spanish side and eleven on the Moroccan side. Moroccan non-governmental organizations, on the other hand, speak of at least 141 dead and dozens missing.

Spain is trying to speed up the procedures of the remaining migrants and has asked the EU for additional support through the border protection agency Frontex, Europol and the EU Asylum Agency. EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner said on Saturday that the priority was the rapid return of all people who were staying illegally in Ceuta.