Spain: The Spanish military is set to deploy to the border with Morocco in Ceuta to restore order after massive crowds of migrants entered the small Spanish territory, resulting in at least nine fatalities during the crossings.
According to CNN, the decision follows urgent appeals from local leaders in Ceuta to authorities in Madrid for additional support after the border crisis escalated, with large groups breaching the frontier barrier.
The Spanish government stated on Thursday evening that Armed Forces personnel would be sent to support the Civil Guard “to maintain security in the city of Ceuta.” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are also scheduled to visit Ceuta on Friday.
Describing the situation on the ground, Rachid Sbihi, head of the association representing Spain’s Civil Guard officers in Ceuta, told CNN, “The situation is absolute chaos.” He added, “It’s not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing,” and stated that the border had “totally collapsed.”
Achraf Maimouni, an activist with the Moroccan Association for Human Rights in northern Morocco, described the events as an “exceptional” occurrence, telling CNN, “The Tarajal border was opened under unusual circumstances this morning, and people crossed.”
CNN reported that the crowds were mostly made up of Moroccans walking from the breakwaters at Tarajal beach onto local streets. The group primarily consisted of young men, along with some families with women and small children. Some individuals shouted “Viva Espana!” to a freelance photographer working for the network. The exact reason behind the large-scale crossing remains unclear.
According to CNN, the government delegation in Ceuta confirmed that at least nine people lost their lives on Thursday during the turmoil. While specific details about the deaths were not provided, bodies were seen floating offshore, adding to the dozens of fatalities recorded this year among those attempting to reach Ceuta.
The surge follows an increase in swimming attempts to enter the exclave earlier in the week. CNN noted that Moroccan authorities have not issued any public statements regarding the incident.
Spain’s interior ministry told CNN that the Moroccan government is “closely cooperating” with Madrid, with Moroccan security forces intercepting “numerous people” attempting to cross. Both countries have committed to working together “for the return, as soon as possible, of all the people who entered Ceuta illegally.”
The situation also triggered regional diplomatic tensions, with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni threatening extraordinary measures, including the possibility of suspending the Schengen Area agreement with Spain, following the rise in migrant arrivals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Addressing the situation on X on Thursday, Prime Minister Sanchez said that his government was maintaining close coordination with Moroccan authorities to restore stability and promised a swift state response.
