Ceuta Under Pressure: Knife Attack on Minors and Contaminated Beach Compound Crisis

Two minors were wounded in a knife attack on Thursday during a clash in the La Marina district of Ceuta, marking a fresh flare-up of violence amid the city’s ongoing migration emergency. National Police officers responded to the scene, and emergency medical teams treated the two youths for cuts around their ankles.

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The incident underscores Ceuta’s struggle to cope with the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants and the mounting challenges of providing adequate shelter for those who remain.

Health alert at Trampolín beach

Ceuta’s Department of Health has issued a warning over water contamination at Trampolín beach, where a migrant encampment continues to operate. Samples collected on 23, 25 and 28 September revealed “very high” levels of intestinal enterococci and Escherichia coli, exceeding safe thresholds for coastal waters.

The report published this Friday confirms a “health risk” linked to water contact. Authorities have also erected fencing at Benítez beach to deter new encampments in the bathing zone.

Migrants sleeping in garages, vehicles and on rooftops

With accommodation in short supply, migrants are resorting to garages, cars and empty vans as makeshift sleeping quarters. In some neighbourhoods, rooftop spaces are being rented out for around €12 per night.

Security forces have also uncovered homes being used to house large groups. In one so-called “patera flat,” police and the Civil Guard discovered up to 30 people inside, most of them minors.

The situation has drawn criticism from local residents, who allege that some individuals are exploiting migrants’ desperate need for shelter.

Growing pressure on public services

The UGT-Ceuta union has called for “sufficient resources” to maintain public-service quality and protect workers facing the strain of thousands of new arrivals. It has urged the government to adopt a coordinated plan to safeguard essential services and restore normality.

Ombudsman Ángel Gabilondo is visiting Ceuta this week to assess the humanitarian emergency firsthand. He is scheduled to meet autonomous-city president Juan Jesús Vivas and to tour Ceuta University Hospital.

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