Thousands of migrants on the streets. Rapes and violence a daily occurrence. Now officials warn Ceuta is on the verge of disaster with ‘the worst of the worst’ still in the enclave
A month after more than 70,000 migrants stormed Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta, officials have warned the city is on the brink of disaster as thousands of the toughest and most desperate remain. While most returned to Morocco, between 3,500 and 7,000 people are still living in Ceuta, many in makeshift camps on the beach, with law enforcement reporting near-daily violence, including attacks on soldiers and a sharp rise in sexual assaults, prompting experts to warn that a major riot or tragedy could be imminent.
Ceuta's chief prosecutor Silvia Rojas reported an "exponential increase" in crimes including sexual assault against minors, with the Ministry of Equality confirming 21 assaults in the past month, five involving penetration and nine against children. Soldiers have been attacked with stones and homemade corrosive liquid on four consecutive days, injuring several troops, while locals last week set fire to a migrant camp amid rising tensions. Equality Minister Ana Redondo condemned the assaults but stressed that blame should not be extended to migrants as a whole, as residents describe worsening confrontations and vandalism across the enclave.
- Thousands of migrants remain in Ceuta a month after mass border crossing
- Officials report daily violence, sexual assaults and attacks on soldiers
- Experts warn escalation into riots is only a matter of time
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Between 3,500 and 7,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, a small Spanish city on the North African coast, after a mass border crossing saw more than 70,000 people enter the enclave from Morocco over the space of a month. Ceuta sits on the edge of Morocco but is Spanish territory, and its land border is one of the few places where Africa and the European Union meet directly, making it a longstanding flashpoint for migration into Europe.
Most of those who crossed have since returned to Morocco or moved on, but a smaller group has stayed, many living in makeshift camps along the beach. Spanish police, prosecutors and the national Ministry of Equality are among the authorities monitoring the situation, alongside soldiers stationed in the enclave who form part of Spain's border security presence there.
Ceuta's small size and limited resources mean it has struggled before to cope with sudden, large-scale arrivals, which is why local officials, police and residents are now watching closely for signs of further unrest or a humanitarian crisis.