In Ceuta there were serious clashes late on the evening of 26 August and in the early hours of 27 August. After a large rally outside the Delegación del Gobierno organised groups of residents tried to forcibly clear migrants’ makeshift shelters at Playa del Trampolín Officers from the Policía Nacional, including the Unidad de Intervención Policial, as well as the Guardia Civil prevented direct attacks and fired warning shots into the air to disperse the groups. No reports of life-threatening injuries caused by the warning shots had emerged by morning.
The rally was directed against the ongoing migration situation in the North African enclave. According to consistent media reports, several thousand people gathered outside the Delegación del Gobierno, called for public spaces to be cleared and chanted slogans against the government in Madrid; chants against Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez were also reported. Tensions then spread to various neighbourhoods. Media reported overturned rubbish bins, barricades and further attempts to reach the beach.
Security forces guarded access points to Playa del Trampolín overnight to prevent further attacks and protect the people staying there. No official, consolidated figures on injuries, arrests or exact attendance were initially available. Officials said the police presence would be increased for the time being.
The background is a sharp rise in arrivals in Ceuta since late July. A lack of sufficient accommodation has led to makeshift camps on beaches and in public spaces. In recent days, the Delegación del Gobierno announced additional places in reception facilities and transfers within the city, but according to local authorities it faced logistical bottlenecks and heavy pressure on municipal services. While groups of residents are calling for swift clearance, aid organisations and some local politicians point to the duty to protect particularly vulnerable people and the need for orderly procedures.
Following the latest escalation, security forces are considering further measures to stabilise the situation, according to sources within the authorities. Political assessments differ: critics accuse the central government of responding too late, while voices close to the government stress that police de-escalation, protection of those affected and the creation of additional capacity must be priorities. How the situation develops over the coming days will depend on implementation of the announced measures and continued control of flashpoints such as Playa del Trampolín.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).