Several professional associations and human rights organisations reported repeated attacks on journalists in Ceuta. According to their accounts, media workers have been insulted, threatened and in some cases physically intimidated while reporting in recent days. The Ministerio del Interior announced a visit by Fernando Grande-Marlaska to Ceuta that day to discuss the situation and protection plans with the security authorities.
Reporteros Sin Fronteras and the Spanish journalists’ association FAPE condemned the incidents. Both organisations are calling on the authorities to take effective protective measures, actively prevent such incidents at demonstrations and prosecute documented assaults. Amnesty International also voiced concern about the threat to press freedom and called for investigations.
Specific incidents were reported from Ceuta and from solidarity rallies in other cities. Newsrooms, for example, reported hostility and obstruction of their work at a demonstration on 5 September 2026 near the port. On 2 September 2026 consistent media reports also described assaults and intimidation of reporters in Madrid, including near the Congreso de los Diputados. Documented incidents include insults and even sexualised threats; several sequences were shown publicly on news programmes.
The authorities point out that the Policía Nacional and the Guardia Civil deploy units to protect the press at larger gatherings. The Ministerio del Interior announced that it would review its operational plans with a view to protecting media workers. Parliamentary questions have been raised about whether the measures taken so far around the protests were sufficient and whether incidents were systematically recorded and reported.
The background is a tense situation in Ceuta since the end of July. Following increased border crossings and political disputes, repeated protests took place, with attitudes towards the media sharply polarised. Local professional associations and newsrooms report an increase in targeted intimidation attempts that go beyond verbal attacks and sometimes escalate into physical assaults.
Assessment: The consistent statements from Reporteros Sin Fronteras, FAPE and other organisations, together with announcements by the authorities, confirm a current news development. The key now is for security forces to document incidents consistently, follow up complaints and implement clear, publicly verifiable protection standards for reporting at gatherings. This serves both the fundamental right to information and the safety of the press.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).