Ceuta unrest: 12 Moroccans held after soldier hurt

Twelve Moroccan nationals were arrested in Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta on Thursday after a military vehicle carrying Spanish soldiers was pelted with stones and one soldier was injured, a Ceuta police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said a group of up to 70 migrants threw stones and other objects at the patrol vehicle early Thursday in the small region bordering Morocco, describing the incident as an “ambush”. People on both sides of the road threw objects at the vehicle, the spokesperson said.

The soldiers fled on foot, were chased by the crowd and called for police backup. When police arrived in several more vehicles, the migrants dispersed, the spokesperson said.

One soldier sustained minor injuries after being struck in the back by a stone. The police spokesperson said the objective of those involved was unknown.

The arrests came as tensions remain high in Ceuta, nearly a month after more than 70,000 migrants entered from Morocco by swimming or walking in over several days. Most returned to Morocco immediately afterwards, but thousands remain in the enclave.

Spain's government puts the number still in Ceuta at between 3,500 and 7,000, while Ceuta's leaders say it is at least 10,000.

Residents have held protests over what they describe as security and hygiene problems linked to the influx. Spanish press reports said the latest demonstration late Wednesday drew thousands and ended in clashes after police fired tear gas to prevent confrontations with migrants camping on a beach.

Ceuta finance councillor Kissy Chandiramani told Cadena Ser radio that tension in the city was very high and that local authorities felt abandoned.

The Spanish government is seeking to speed up the return of migrants remaining in Ceuta, but says each person must be identified to determine whether they are entitled to asylum or subject to deportation, while thousands of minors require special protection.