Spanish Police Clear Ceuta Migrant Camp Ahead of Royal Visit
AI Summary
Spanish riot police have dismantled a makeshift camp of 3,500 migrants in Ceuta, citing health risks and security concerns prior to a visit by the King and Queen.
Spanish riot police launched a large-scale operation on Sunday to clear a settlement of over 3,500 migrants on Trampolín beach in Ceuta.
The intervention, known as Operation Trampolín, began shortly before 8:00 a.m. as units from Seville, Granada, and Malaga joined local forces to seal off the site. According to Euronews, authorities justified the move by citing a clear health risk from contaminated waters and a rise in violent incidents that made it impossible to guarantee safety. Reuters reported that the clearing took place just ahead of an official visit to the city by the King and Queen of Spain.
Police used drones and armored vehicles—including two BMRs and a Vamtac S3—to monitor the area and block escape routes into the nearby hills. Officers moved through the settlement shack by shack, using an interpreter to inform residents in Arabic that they were being relocated. Radio Televisión Ceuta reported that the first buses departed before 9:00 a.m., transporting individuals to the Tarajal CATE reception center for triage and identification.
While women and children were included in this initial phase, Euronews noted that the majority of the camp's residents are men. Displaced individuals are being offered spaces at Loma Colmenar and the port, though officials acknowledged that a shortage of available places remains a significant obstacle. Some migrants reportedly fled toward the hills as the police arrived, while others may eventually choose to return to their home countries.
The Higher Police Headquarters stated that the settlement was home to more than 3,500 people. This operation is considered the first phase of a larger effort to manage the site, which has recently experienced significant insecurity and tension during a period of crisis in the enclave.
Background
This action marks the third clearing operation in Ceuta in recent weeks, following two previous interventions at the Benítez settlement. Local police supported the operation by closing roads between Benítez and Benzú starting at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday.
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