Arabic version: إسبانيا تلقي باللوم على المهربين في موجة الهجرة إلى سبتة

According to BBC News, about 60,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, prompting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to blame trafficking gangs. Local media reported that at least 57 people died during the surge. Sánchez called the incident a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity” and said criminal networks had spread a self-serving interpretation of a recent Supreme Court ruling.

The ruling said migrants stopped at sea while attempting to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish enclave, cannot be summarily returned to Morocco. By Friday evening, Spanish officials said more than 48,000 migrants had voluntarily returned to Morocco. Spain has deployed armed forces to strengthen security in Ceuta and Melilla, where between 300 and 400 crossings were also reported overnight.

Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas said the arrivals equalled about 70% of the city’s population of around 83,600. Spain’s Interior Ministry gave a lower estimate of 50,000 arrivals since early Thursday. Officials estimated at least 7,000 people who crossed illegally in the previous 24 hours were minors. Most arrivals were young men, though women, children and babies were also in the crowds.

Italy suspended the EU’s Schengen arrangements with Spain, a step that would effectively mean extra checks for passengers on flights between the countries. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the images from Ceuta “shocking”. Spain’s foreign minister described her remarks as improper and summoned Italy’s ambassador to Madrid. Other European leaders called for action, while Sánchez said Morocco was co-operating with returns.