Ceuta is one of two Spanish enclaves (the other being Melilla) on the coast of North Africa, surrounded on three sides by Morocco. Migrants from Morocco are intensifying their efforts to get into Spanish territory in Ceuta, swimming through the sea to reach the beach where Spanish holidaymakers are bathing. The culture-enrichers want to get onto EU soil, where they know they will get money for nothing and the chicks are free.

Many thanks to Gary Fouse for translating this article from El Faro de Ceuta:

Moroccans arrive at the beach sneaking in among bathers, one policeman injured

One officer received the impact of a stone, beach out of control with the arrival of swimmers from Morocco who mixed in with Ceutan bathers

by Carmen Echarri
August 25, 2024

The bathers who were present this afternoon in the area of Tarajal beach in Ceuta were transformed into witnesses of the arrival of some swimmers, apparently minors, who arrived at the beach taking advantage of the presence of other people in the water.

This was according to official sources consulted by El Faro after the dissemination of several videos showing a large number of people running on the beach, swimmers who found cover among those who were in the water.

The Moroccans mixed among the bathers to disguise themselves, generating confusion among the families who were there.

Then they left running from the location, chased by the Civil Guard.

One officer from the National Police was injured, being hit with a rock thrown in the Tarajal zone, where they attacked a police vehicle, hitting a colleague who was inside. It is not known who the perpetrator of this attack was.

He was taken to the hospital, and according to command sources, he is fine.

The police have not specified additional information in this regard. Both episodes took place on a foggy afternoon coinciding with a large presence of swimmers who are leaving Morocco.

The situation is also complicated for the neighboring country [Morocco], which is incapable of preventing the swimmers from jumping into the sea in the direction of Ceuta.

After what occurred last early morning, the drip-drip of arrivals has not ceased.

From Morocco comes information about a large number of minors, the majority of whom want to reach Ceuta by swimming.

Those in the area become witnesses from their vantage point of how they throw themselves in the water without any regard.

Families on the beach have conveyed to this newspaper their discomfort, because it appears they are being criminalized when they indicate that they themselves were surprised by the arrival of the Moroccans by swimming.

Security forces have been deployed.

The circumstances are adverse due to the weather, the fog that prevents seeing those who approach Ceuta until they are already on the coast.

That is what happened this afternoon with the arrival of swimmers who mixed in with the bathers of Ceuta. The fact that they were in bathing suits makes it complicated to distinguish them. Seeing what was happening, the Guardia Civil went into action, but several took off running while the people screamed.

So far today, 17 minors have arrived in the city.