King of Spain invokes that what happened in Ceuta must not be repeated; Felipe VI says he is indignant and worried

King Felipe VI of Spain has voiced his "concern and indignation" regarding the "serious" events that unfolded in the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla. He emphasized the critical role of the Spanish state in safeguarding the security of these territories and ensuring such incidents do not happen again.

The Spanish Royal Household released a statement on Saturday, indicating that the King had followed the developments in Ceuta and, to a lesser extent, Melilla with "great concern and indignation." This migration crisis saw an estimated 50,000 migrants enter Ceuta irregularly from Morocco, with many arriving by sea. The situation tragically resulted in the loss of dozens of lives.

In response to the crisis, King Felipe VI underscored the necessity of unified and clear measures to convey Spain's support and solidarity to the populations of Ceuta and Melilla. "The State must ensure their security and prevent these events – which have also resulted in the sad and tragic loss of dozens of lives – from happening again," the monarch stated.

Throughout the influx of migrants, the King maintained contact with the leaders of Ceuta and Melilla, as well as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo. Meanwhile, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reported that the situation in Ceuta was reversed within 24 hours, with the city returning to normality. However, Ceuta's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, contested this, stating the crisis remains open as thousands of people are still in the streets.

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The State must ensure their security and prevent these events – which have also resulted in the sad and tragic loss of dozens of lives – from happening again.