The wave of migrants in Ceuta

Thousands have crossed the border into Spanish Ceuta

Thousands of people have crossed the border from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in North Africa, reports the AP. Local authorities have asked the government to declare a state of emergency.

Videos and images from the scene show large groups of people making their way over the breakwaters that separate the border.

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska is expected to travel to the autonomous exclave to monitor developments, writes El Mundo.

The situation is reminiscent of 2021, when around 8,000 people crossed the border in just two days.

Spain sends military after thousands cross the border

Spain sends military to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta in North Africa after thousands of migrants crossed the border from Morocco, reports Reuters.

According to police information to El Mundo, at least 20,000 people have crossed the border.

Videos and images from Ceuta show people getting around the breakwaters that form part of the border on foot.

– The situation is completely chaotic [...] The border has completely collapsed, says Rachid Sbihi, union representative for the Spanish Civil Guard in Ceuta, to the AP.

Italy wants to exclude Spain from Schengen

The wave of migrants to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta has led Italy to want to temporarily exclude Spain from Schengen. This is what Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni writes on X.

“The uncontrolled illegal immigration constitutes a concrete threat to Europe's border security,” Meloni writes.

The EU has also offered Spain support from the border agency Frontex, reports TT.

EU Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner also states that the EU is in contact with Moroccan authorities to prevent more migrants from crossing the border.