Tensions have continued to rise in Ceuta after police clashed with groups of migrants who entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco during a large and sudden border surge.
Video recorded on Sunday showed several migrants carrying an injured man wrapped in a blanket. Members of the group claimed he had been hurt by police during efforts to contain a demonstration. Some people in the crowd shouted “Allahu Akbar” as officers moved into the area.
Further footage showed Spanish National Police officers carrying batons and advancing toward demonstrators. In one recording, an officer appeared to strike a migrant during the confrontation. Other images showed injured people lying in the street as the unrest continued.
An estimated 60,000 people entered Ceuta on Thursday, many of them swimming from the Moroccan coast. Ceuta is a Spanish territory on the northern coast of Africa and shares a land border with Morocco.
Some of those who crossed claimed Moroccan officers had encouraged them to continue toward Spanish territory. Mohammed Ahmidho, 37, said he learned about the mass movement through social media. As he approached the border, he claimed he heard officers telling people to go to Spain.
The allegations have added to speculation that Morocco may have relaxed its border controls as a way of putting political pressure on Madrid. Relations between Spain and Algeria, one of Morocco’s main regional rivals, have recently improved, raising questions about whether the crossings were connected to broader diplomatic tensions.
Social media may also have played a role. Some migrants said they had seen viral posts discussing a possible legal loophole following a ruling by Spain’s Supreme Court. The court determined that migrants intercepted at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla could not automatically be returned to Morocco without proper legal procedures.
The disorder later spread to Melilla, Spain’s other enclave in North Africa. Cars were reportedly set on fire, while groups of migrants entered buildings and gathered in public areas. Footage from Ceuta showed large numbers of people running along beaches, swimming ashore and moving into the city’s streets.
Many migrants, including people believed to have come from Sudan, spent the night on beaches. Some slept in groups, while others gathered for evening prayers.
The crisis has prompted concern across Europe. Representatives from European Union countries were expected to hold an emergency video meeting after 22 member states called for a coordinated response to prevent further uncontrolled crossings.
Several European governments criticized Spain’s handling of the situation. Italy said it was considering extraordinary measures, including possible restrictions at its Schengen border with Spain. France announced tighter checks along its own border, while officials in Finland supported calls for Spain to face consequences within the passport-free Schengen area.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged Morocco to accept the return of migrants who had entered Spain without authorization.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez responded by accusing some European governments of acting selfishly. His government has faced growing criticism over immigration policy, including a program intended to provide legal status to roughly 500,000 undocumented migrants.
There has also been confusion over the number of deaths linked to the crossing. Spanish officials said at least 72 people had died, raising an earlier estimate of 67. Morocco’s Interior Ministry later reported a much lower toll of 11, saying 10 people had drowned and one had died after falling from a rocky area.
Most of the people who entered Ceuta have since returned to Morocco, but the city is still dealing with the aftermath. Shops closed early during the height of the crisis, and many residents said they remained worried about security.
Local resident Salvador Ortega described the situation as far more serious than the smaller border crossings people in Ceuta had become accustomed to seeing. He said the heavy presence of police, ambulances and helicopters had made the city feel as though it were facing a national emergency.
Others argued that responsibility lay with authorities rather than the migrants themselves. Mohamad Abdelkader Driss, a waiter in the city, said people would naturally cross if the border was left open.
Political tensions have also intensified. Hard-right politicians and anti-immigration activists arrived in Ceuta over the weekend, leading to counterprotests involving members of the city’s large Muslim community.
Alvise Pérez, a far-right member of the European Parliament, called for migrants to be expelled while facing an angry crowd of counterprotesters. He later took shelter inside a bar until police escorted him away.
Student Noor Ahmed, 20, accused visiting political figures of exploiting the crisis for publicity.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal also visited Ceuta and described the crossings as an invasion. He accused the Spanish government of failing to protect the borders of Ceuta and Melilla.
The events have once again placed immigration, border control and relations with Morocco at the center of political debate in Spain and across Europe.