Chaotic scenes as Spanish police clear Ceuta migrants from beaches

Around 150 police officers began the process of moving migrants encamped on two beaches in Ceuta on Friday to facilities set up at the port in the Spanish exclave city, after the National High Court allowed their temporary use on Thursday following repeated judicial and political disputes. The start of the operation was marked by an initial stampede that led officers to fire warning shots into the air and left several people injured. Once that initial phase had passed, police organized the migrants into groups along the entire promenade, from Benítez beach to the start of the industrial area of the port, occupying a distance of just under 1,000 meters.The operation was launched in response to growing public concern over the presence of thousands of migrants in Ceuta, an autonomous Spanish city on the coast of North Africa, after a mass breach of the border in late July during which an estimated 80,000 people crossed into the territory. The majority of the migrants returned to Morocco but thousands remain seeking to file asylum claims while living in makeshift camps on the city’s beaches, leading authorities in Madrid to order the temporary opening of more facilities to house them. Through a megaphone the authorities called for calm, and the migrants waited for their transfer behind a heavy police cordon. For now, those being moved belong to the Benítez beach settlement, adjacent to the larger El Trampolín settlement. The operation began shortly before 7.00 a.m. Migrants on El Trampolín beach were cordoned off but there was no tension as they already knew they will not be moved today and returned to their usual routine.Before the police operation began, hundreds of migrants were already waiting on the beaches. When only a few Civil Guard units were in the area, migrants began to run toward the port, causing a crowd surge along Ceuta’s seafront promenade. At around 7 a.m., when police units arrived, the stampede was brought under control and the migrants were organized for the transfer to commence.Just as the streetlights were going out, the transfer operation to the Port of Ceuta facilities officially began. After the first chaotic hour, police units started the foot transfer toward the temporary reception center. The operation was carried out jointly with military units and the Civil Guard. The migrants, mostly men, greeted the start of the march with applause after a sleepless night spent waiting, prepared to leave with their belongings. The new facilities have capacity for about 1,700 people.The operation to transport migrants to the port experienced several tense moments. The migrants crowded around the riot police, and as they tried to cross along the designated route, a stampede broke out. The police fired shots into the air and struck several of the migrants, who had been holding their ground for nearly an hour against the pressure of the hundreds of people crowding behind them.Migrants enter the temporary camp set up at the Poniente pier in the Port of Ceuta after passing through the access checkpoint and security screening this Friday.Reduan (EFE)Hundreds of migrants wait near Benítez Beach for their transfer to the port of Ceuta, alongside several National Police vans.Mònica TorresA group of minors, after being separated from the rest of the migrants, near Benítez Beach.Mònica TorresDozens of migrants remain on Benítez Beach, waiting to be transported to the port of Ceuta. Mònica TorresRiot police trying to stop the migrants from advancing. Mònica TorresPolice holding the migrants at Benítez Beach so they can be transported to the port in small groups.Mònica TorresRiot police contain migrants as they are being transported from the beaches of Ceuta to the port facilities this Friday.Mònica TorresA migrant was injured during the scuffles that broke out in the early stages of the operation to clear Benítez Beach. Mònica TorresRiot police contain the migrants as they are transported to the port facilities, where space is limited.Mònica TorresMigrants who spent the night on Benítez Beach waiting to be transported to the port of Ceuta this Friday.Mònica TorresTense moments during the operation to clear the beaches in Ceuta. Mònica TorresMigrants from Benitez Beach waiting to be transported to the port facilities in Ceuta.Mònica TorresMigrants were rounded up by the police in small groups to be transported on foot to the port of Ceuta.Mònica TorresMigrants waiting to be transported to the port of Ceuta this Friday.Mònica TorresMigrants, with their few belongings, set out on their journey to the port of Ceuta.Monica TorresThe transfer of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta to the port.Monica TorresMigrants move forward in single file, escorted by a large police presence.Mònica TorresA group of migrants leaves the beaches of Ceuta after spending 49 days there.Monica TorresRiot police surround the migrants moments before they begin their transfer from the beaches of Ceuta to the port facilities in Ceuta.Monica TorresThousands of migrants are waiting to be transported from El Trampolín Beach to the port facilities in Ceuta.Monica TorresMigrants on the beaches of El Trampolín and Benítez waiting to be transported. They brought their few belongings with them, mainly blankets.Bárbara AyusoMigrants waiting on the boardwalk to be taken to the port facilities in Ceuta.Monica TorresThe relocation operation began early Friday morning, with a large police presence.Monica TorresThe police managed to round up a large number of the migrants, who were already prepared for transport.Monica TorresSoldiers observe the police operation to clear Ceuta's beaches early this Friday morning.Mónica TorresMigrants at El Trampolín Beach and Benítez Beach wait to be transported to the port facilities in Ceuta this Friday. Monica TorresMigrants who spent the night on El Trampolín Beach and Benítez Beach waiting to be transported to the port facilities in Ceuta this Friday.BÁRBARA AYUSOA soldier observes the operation to clear the beaches of Ceuta early this Friday morning.Removal of minorsOfficers involved in the transfer located several children who were waiting to be relocated to the port facilities. They were removed from the group, which had been sitting on the ground following officers’ instructions. The temporary reception center is intended for adult males, and unlike a previous operation to move migrants to a facility at Loma Colmenar, where unaccompanied minors were initially admitted, on this occasion authorities are preventing them from blending in with the others. For now, there are no new facilities designated for minors in Ceuta.Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition