Spain sends troops to border after thousands of migrants swim into Ceuta from Morocco
- Armoured vehicles guard the beach at the Spanish enclave as police throw smoke bombs to discourage others from crossing
- Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the migrant influx a serious crisis for Europe, amid heightened diplomatic tensions with Morocco
A sudden influx of migrants swimming into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in northern Africa is a serious crisis for Europe, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday, vowing to re-establish order promptly amid heightened diplomatic tensions with Morocco.
Spain deployed troops to Ceuta to patrol the border with Morocco after around 8,000 migrants, many from Sub-Saharan Africa and including some 1,500 minors, entered the enclave on Monday and Tuesday by swimming in or climbing over the fence.
Armoured vehicles were guarding Ceuta‘s beach on Tuesday, and soldiers and police used batons to clear migrants from the beach and threw smoke bombs to discourage others from crossing.
A Reuters reporter on the ground said the number of arrivals by sea had slowed, and some migrants were voluntarily returning to Morocco. A few others could be seen being carried away by soldiers, but dozens still waded in the water towards Ceuta.
Spain said around 4,000 migrants had already been sent back to Morocco, under a readmission deal.