Migrants Arrested in Ceuta for Throwing Stones at Spanish Soldiers

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, saw four Moroccan migrants arrested on Saturday for throwing stones at patrolling Spanish soldiers. One soldier sustained an injury while pursuing the attackers, according to a police spokesperson.

This incident marks the second such event in recent days. On Thursday, 12 Moroccan migrants were detained for throwing stones at a Spanish military vehicle, injuring one of the four occupants. Eleven of those individuals were subsequently deported to Morocco.

Ceuta continues to be a source of political and security tension for Spain. On July 30 and 31, tens of thousands of migrants crossed the territory's border from Morocco, raising concerns among European Union partners. While most have since departed, thousands remain in Ceuta, living on the streets and beaches of the territory, which has a population of 80,000.

Local residents protesting the presence of these migrants clashed with police on Thursday, prompting the Spanish government to call for calm. Madrid is exploring ways to reduce the number of migrants remaining in Ceuta without violating EU and international asylum and migration laws. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner stated on social media that Spain has requested assistance from the EU border control agency Frontex, the police cooperation agency Europol, and the EU Asylum Agency. He pledged a swift decision, describing the situation in Ceuta as complex and emphasizing the priority of ensuring the rapid return of all individuals present illegally.

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The priority continues to be ensuring the rapid return of all individuals present illegally in Ceuta.