Officials in Ceuta, a Spanish territory, have urged the government in Madrid to deploy the military and declare a national emergency following a significant influx of individuals into the area.
Footage captured at Tarajal beach depicted throngs of people, predominantly Moroccans, navigating the breakwaters and dashing across the beach and roads, with some chanting “Viva Espana!”
The spike in migrants trying to reach the small region, primarily through swimming, has led to heightened tensions at the border between Spain and Morocco.
The surge of individuals crossing the frontier echoes the border crisis in May 2021 when over 8,000 migrants entered Ceuta within a span of just two days.
Juan Jesus Vivas, the head of the Ceuta regional government, has called on the national government in Madrid to declare a national emergency citing national security concerns. He has requested additional police presence and the deployment of the army along the border.
Vivas emphasized that the increased police and military presence is crucial “to ensure the integrity of the border and the safety of citizens.”
Earlier, Vivas had expressed concerns about migrant reception facilities being overwhelmed, leading to hundreds of individuals resorting to sleeping on the streets.