Spanish Police Begin Operation to Evict Migrants from Ceuta Beach
Spanish National Police launch operation to clear illegal migrant encampment on Ceuta beach, amid health risks and political tensions.
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Spanish National Police officers began a large-scale operation on Sunday to clear an illegal migrant encampment from Ceuta’s Trampolín beach. The move comes months after over 70,000 migrants from Morocco invaded the North African exclave. Around 350 officers from across Spain were deployed to dismantle the tent city, which had grown to house approximately 10,000 migrants, including around 3,000 North African men of military age.
Operation Involves Military Equipment and Health Concerns
The operation saw the use of fifty National Police vans, three riot police tanks, and ten armored military vehicles to create a cordon and set up checkpoints in Ceuta. Three Civil Guard boats were also deployed to prevent migrants from fleeing by sea. Despite initial resistance, with chants of “no to Morocco!” breaking out, riot police quickly suppressed the protest.
During the evacuation, hundreds of migrants were loaded onto buses, including two National Police and one municipal government vehicle, and transported to the El Tarajal border crossing with Morocco. Most opted for voluntary return to Morocco, as providing information to Spanish authorities could trigger deportation and limit asylum eligibility. Minors were transported to government accommodation for potential refugee status.
Health Risks and Ongoing Challenges
The operation faces added complications due to health risks. Water surrounding the beach was found contaminated with E. coli, surpassing bathing water quality limits. Health officials warned of disease outbreaks due to migrants using the beach for sanitation and washing food. The Ministry of Health confirmed high concentrations of intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli in the water, highlighting the need for caution during the operation.
Ángel Víctor Torres Pérez, the Minister for Territorial Policy, announced the government’s goal to clear the beach of illegal migrants by October 15th. While a smaller camp on Benítez beach was cleared in September, the Trampolín operation is expected to be more complex. Madrid’s Ministry of Migration plans to house and feed around 6,000 migrants until early next year while their asylum claims are processed.
Source: Breitbart
