Protesters set fire to a Ceuta migrant camp, clashing with police as thousands of migrants remain after a July influx of over 70,000 people. The incident intensifies political pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez ahead of next year's elections, with opposition parties demanding a tougher migration stance.
Police intervened after demonstrators ignited the camp, while a military vehicle was pelted with stones by roughly 70 individuals and Red Cross aid convoys were blocked by locals waving Spanish flags. Authorities estimate fewer than 7,000 migrants remain, though Ceuta officials claim at least 10,000.
The Spanish government faces growing criticism as the conservative opposition accuses Prime Minister Sánchez of neglecting Ceuta residents, while Madrid accelerates migrant identification and allocates additional funds for unaccompanied minors. EU officials also note heightened internal divisions over migration management.
Police allege Moroccan security stood by during the mass crossing, yet Madrid says no evidence links Rabat to the surge, and officials dispute the true number of migrants still present. The discrepancy in migrant counts and the alleged permissiveness remain unresolved.