Police intervened after demonstrators targeted makeshift beach settlements while demanding the removal of thousands of migrants who remain in the Spanish enclave.
CEUTA, SPAIN — Protesters in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta damaged and set fire to makeshift shelters used by migrants near city beaches Thursday, escalating weeks of public anger over the government’s response to a mass border crossing from neighboring Morocco.
The unrest unfolded around Benítez and Trampolín beaches, where migrants have been living in makeshift shelters after tens of thousands of people crossed into Ceuta at the end of July. Police moved to separate demonstrators from migrants and prevent further confrontations as protesters demanded that those who entered the territory be removed. The violence marked one of the sharpest episodes of unrest since the migration crisis began.
EFE reported that demonstrators set fire to two straw beach structures during the protest, producing a large column of smoke. El País reported that a group entered a small migrant settlement at Benítez Beach, damaged it and set parts of it on fire, forcing migrants to flee while police established a security cordon. Reuters also reported that tents used by migrants around Trampolín Beach had been attacked and burned.
The confrontation followed efforts by demonstrators to interfere with humanitarian aid. Protesters blocked a Red Cross vehicle carrying food and water toward Trampolín Beach for more than two hours, according to EFE. Authorities later increased the police presence around food distribution points. The Spanish government said that, as of Aug. 27, its emergency response with the Red Cross had distributed more than 93,000 food kits along with thousands of hygiene kits.
The demonstrations reflect growing anger among some Ceuta residents who say the national government has moved too slowly to restore normal conditions in the densely populated territory. Protesters have repeatedly demanded that migrants be returned to Morocco, while opposition politicians have accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government of failing to act quickly enough. Government ministers have rejected claims that the situation can be resolved through immediate mass removals, saying each case must be handled within Spanish and international law.
The crisis began July 30, when at least 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, according to figures cited by Reuters. Most returned to Morocco, but Spanish authorities estimated Friday that between 5,000 and 8,000 remained. The crossing also brought a heavy death toll. Authorities said 82 migrants died on the Spanish side, while Morocco had confirmed 14 additional deaths.
Conditions for those who remained have strained shelters and public spaces across Ceuta. Human Rights Watch said after an August visit that more than 1,000 men and boys had been living in makeshift huts on Trampolín Beach, with thousands of others sleeping on streets, in industrial areas or in hills around the city. Spain announced four temporary tent camps with room for about 1,500 adults and began moving migrants into some of those facilities Aug. 20.
Tensions have also been fueled by separate clashes involving migrants and security forces. Authorities arrested 12 migrants Thursday after stones were thrown at a military vehicle, according to Spanish news reports. The incident came as demonstrations were spreading through the city and police were trying to prevent direct confrontations between residents and migrants. Officials have urged both sides to avoid further violence.
Spain moved Friday to seek additional European assistance. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska asked the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, known as Frontex, to help screen migrants still in Ceuta and requested 10 additional officers. The request came nearly a month after the mass crossing and amid mounting pressure on the government to accelerate identification, asylum and return procedures.
Demonstrations continued Friday, but the widespread destruction reported the previous day was not repeated. Police guarded humanitarian aid operations and separated protesters from migrants near the beaches. National and local officials continued to appeal for calm as authorities worked to process those who remain and prevent another outbreak of violence.
Author note: Last updated August 29, 2026.