Police begin operation to move migrants from Ceuta beaches

Police begin operation to move migrants from Ceuta beaches Police began moving hundreds of migrants from the beaches of Ceuta to a newly established tented area in the port district of the Spanish territory in North Africa on Friday. Officers struggled to contain crowds jostling for a spot at the site after weeks of living on the beaches. Shots were heard, with reports that police fired into the air. Several hundred migrants have now reached the camp, which has a capacity for 1,700 people. Of the 72,000 migrants who crossed the border from Morocco in July, most have returned, but it is believed that more than 13,000 remain in the enclave. The operation began at approximately 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Friday, with more than 3,000 migrants transferred, according to the Spanish government‑owned news agency Efe. During the process, some migrants broke through the cordon along the designated 2 km (1.2‑mile) route to the port. Video footage shows young men running in the darkness as police attempted to maintain control. More than 170 police officers have been deployed, including drone technicians, Efe reported. The agency added that the situation was brought under control quickly and the operation could continue. The move is part of the government’s effort to house migrants in facilities where they can be identified and cared for while their administrative status is determined individually.