Spanish police move hundreds of migrants from Ceuta beaches to tented area
Police in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta began relocating hundreds of migrants from the beaches to a newly set up tented site, using crowd‑control measures such as firing warning shots. Reports note that tens of thousands of migrants remain in the enclave after a July breach of the fence.
First reported 1 hour ago · latest update 6 hours from now
Police have begun moving hundreds of migrants in Ceuta to a new tented site in the port area of the Spanish territory in north Africa.
Officers struggled to contain crowds of people jostling to secure a place at the site after weeks of living on the beaches. Shots could be heard, with reports that police fired into the air.
Several hundred migrants have now reached the camp, which has a capacity for 1,700 people.
Most of the 72,000 migrants who breached the border from Morocco in July have returned. Ceuta's authorities have estimated that 13,000 remain in the enclave, but the Spanish central government has said it is lower.
The operation began at about 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday, with more than 3,000 migrants being transferred, according to the Spanish government-owned news agency Efe.
During the process, some migrants broke through the cordon along the designated 2km (1.2 mile) route to the port. Video shows young men running in the darkness as police tried to maintain control.
More than 170 police officers have been deployed, including drone technicians, Efe reported. It added that the situation was later "brought under control quickly", and the operation was able to continue.
The operation is part of the government's attempt to concentrate the migrants in facilities where they can be identified and cared for while their administrative status is individually determined.
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Police begin operation to move migrants from Ceuta beaches
Police reportedly fired into the air on Friday morning as they struggled to contain crowds jostling to secure a place at the tented site.
21 minutes from nowPolice clear Ceuta migrants off beaches in Spanish enclave
At least 10,000 of the 72,000 migrants who broke through fence from Morocco in July remain in the Spanish enclave.
6 hours from nowPolice move hundreds of migrants still in Ceuta off beaches in Spanish enclave
Spanish police in Ceuta on Friday morning started moving hundreds of migrants from the beaches of the Spanish enclave to a new tented area. Several thousand migrants remain in Ceuta after tens of thousands of people crossed the border with Morocco in late July.
1 hour ago · FRANCE 24