Spain Reports 23 Attacks, Including Against Children, Amid Migrant Crisis in Ceuta

Spanish authorities have reported 23 serious assault and injury cases, nine of which involved children, since a large influx of migrants arrived in the enclave of Ceuta from Morocco in late July. Thousands of migrants remain in the city, exacerbating tensions with local residents.

According to reports from Tuesday, the Spanish law enforcement agencies documented the 23 incidents in Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city in North Africa, following the mass entry of migrants. At least 72,000 Muslim migrants crossed the border on July 30 and 31, and approximately 5,000 are still in the city. This situation has led to severe friction with the local population and a political crisis for Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

In response to the ongoing situation and recent clashes between migrants and residents, Prime Minister Sanchez convened the National Security Council for the second time in a week. The government approved a multi-million euro aid package to fund essential services and care for unaccompanied minors.

The crisis has drawn sharp criticism from the Spanish opposition. The right-wing Vox party claimed Sanchez has not lost control of Ceuta but has surrendered it. Arancha Campos, president of the Ceuta Employers' Confederation, told the BBC, "We cannot do anything unless these people leave. The government has not given us a plan to deal with the crisis. We don't even know when they will finish checking everyone." Ceuta's Mayor, Juan Jesus Vivas, has called for citizens across Spain to participate in demonstrations of support for the city.

Prime Minister Sanchez has avoided blaming the Moroccan government for the migration wave, stating that intelligence reports do not indicate direct involvement by authorities in Rabat. Instead, Sanchez pointed to disinformation on social media, suggesting links to various international actors, including Russia and Israel, aiming to divide and polarize Europe. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi called Sanchez's remarks "a blatant lie," and a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry demanded proof of the allegations. The opposition People's Party criticized the attempt to absolve Morocco of responsibility, while Morocco itself has denied any involvement in the border crossing.