Skip to main content
Work with the NEU
Thousands of people attempt to swim from Morocco to Spanish enclave of Ceuta
People rescued by the Spanish coastguard at the port of on La Estaca in Valverde at the Canary island of El Hierro, Spain, August 26, 2024

THOUSANDS of migrants have attempted to cross the border from Morocco to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in the last few days, including hundreds of youth who tried to swim their way around controls, Spanish authorities said on Monday.

Videos broadcast on Spanish media over the weekend showed Spanish police intercepting migrants in the water at night amid a thick fog but also in broad daylight, struggling to separate the new arrivals from crowds of beach-goers.

Cristina Perez, the Spanish government’s representative in Ceuta, told journalists on Monday that since August 22 an average of 700 people had attempted to breach the border daily, with a peak of 1,500 attempts on Sunday.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
PAWNS IN A POLITICAL GAME: Migrants who crossed into Spain from Morocco sleep on a Ceuta beach, August 3 2026
Features / 6 August 2026
6 August 2026

CARLOS MARTINEZ shows how EU, Israel and US shenanigans were used in an attempt to destabilise Spain’s mildly socialist government

Cueta crisis
Men’s football / 5 August 2026
5 August 2026