Spanish police have begun dismantling a large migrant settlement on Trampolín beach in Ceuta, moving people out of tents and makeshift shelters after more than two months of living in difficult conditions. Around 3,000 people had been staying at the site, according to reports.
Officers moved from shelter to shelter, informing residents that they had to leave as the structures were removed. Women and children were included in the first phase, while buses transported migrants to temporary reception facilities for registration and processing.
The operation involved riot police and other security units brought in from mainland Spain. Authorities said the beach settlement had raised concerns over sanitation, safety and public order, while police restricted access around the area during the clearance.
The clearance is also taking place ahead of a planned visit by Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia to Ceuta on October 13 and 14. The government has set a deadline of October 15 to complete the wider operation.
As police clear the beach, the wider challenge remains unresolved: finding adequate accommodation and support for migrants who remain in the enclave, while authorities manage border pressures and humanitarian concerns.
