Clashes broke out between protesters and police in central Madrid this week following a mass rally over the Spanish government’s handling of the migrant crisis in Ceuta.
The enclave, a small Spanish territory located on the North African coast, has faced severe pressure since around 72,000 people crossed from Morocco in late July. Although most returned or were sent back, thousands remain, straining local services and intensifying criticism of the Spanish government’s border policy.
The unrest followed a gathering outside Madrid City Hall on Wednesday, with official attendance estimates ranging from 50,000 to 150,000. Several hundred demonstrators later moved toward parliament, where police said objects were thrown at officers. Riot police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets, leaving four people arrested and several officers injured, according to EFE news agency.
The demonstration was part of gatherings held across Spain to mark Ceuta Day. Although organizers presented them as a show of solidarity with the territory, many participants blamed Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s left-wing government for the crisis, chanting “Sanchez, traitor, resign” and calling for him to be jailed.
Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s right-wing party Vox, said that Ceuta had been “abandoned and betrayed.” He also claimed that the crisis offered a warning of what could happen elsewhere in Spain unless the government took stronger action.
Sanchez had previously condemned the mass crossing as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity” and pledged to strengthen border controls. Addressing the Spanish parliament on Thursday, he acknowledged that the authorities’ response “has not been sufficient.” He said trafficking networks and false claims circulated on social media were among the factors behind the influx.
Tensions have also risen inside Ceuta, where residents have demanded faster deportations and a stronger response from Madrid. Local authorities have struggled with overcrowding, sanitation problems, and disease outbreaks, while police have investigated numerous violent and sexual crimes during the crisis.
A police intelligence report submitted to a Spanish court this week said suspected Moroccan officers had guided migrants toward crossing points, but stopped short of accusing Rabat of organizing the operation.
The Ceuta crisis has also fueled tensions within the EU. While Brussels responded with formal statements of solidarity, several European leaders instead criticized Sanchez’s migration policies, with some calling for Spain to face consequences within the Schengen Area.