Why are there still thousands of migrants in Spain's Ceuta?

Thousands of migrants remain in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, a month after a mass crossing from Morocco. The crisis has sparked protests across Spain, with tens of thousands of people demonstrating in support of Ceuta and criticizing the government's handling of the situation. According to The Local Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stated that there is no solid proof that Morocco orchestrated the migrant rush, despite a police report suggesting that Moroccan security forces failed to prevent the crossings.

The police report, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, alleged that Moroccan security forces were initially deployed in smaller numbers than usual and did not make a serious attempt to disperse the crowds. Some Moroccan officers were also accused of giving directions towards the crossing point. However, Sánchez has stated that no institution has provided evidence that Morocco planned or carried out the incident.

Protesters have accused Sánchez of failing to protect Spain's borders, following the surge of 70,000 migrants into Ceuta this summer. Demonstrations took place in cities across Spain, including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, with estimates of the number of attendees varying widely. The protests were called in support of Ceuta and to express solidarity with its residents, who have been affected by the migration crisis.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Local Spain, The Local Spain, The Olive Press, Spain in English, Jerusalem Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.