Rabat – A court in Ceuta has ordered the expulsion of 11 of the 12 migrants arrested for allegedly throwing stones at Spanish soldiers and injuring four of them, Spanish media quoted judicial sources as saying.
The decision was issued by Court No. 1 in Ceuta, with the Superior Court of Justice of Andalusia confirming the expulsions on Friday, El Pais reported.
The 12 migrants were arrested after an incident in Benzú, a neighborhood in Ceuta, where migrants allegedly threw stones at military personnel. Four soldiers were injured in the incident.
The court ordered the expulsion of 11 of those arrested, while the case involving the remaining migrant was not included in the decision.
The expulsions come as Spain continues to deal with a large number of migrants who remain in Ceuta after crossing irregularly from Morocco in late July.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said Friday that the government is working to return migrants to Morocco when they “do not meet the conditions to stay” in Spain.
Spain has also asked the European Commission for support from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, and Europol to help classify migrants and organize assistance for those remaining in Ceuta.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said Spain has maintained “permanent communication with Morocco” since the beginning of the migration crisis. He credited cooperation with Morocco for the return of migrants who entered Ceuta on July 30 and 31, as well as for stopping another attempted mass entry on August 14.
Meanwhile, Ceuta’s assembly unanimously approved a declaration condemning all forms of violence and describing the city as being in a “critical situation” and close to collapse.
Tensions escalated this week after groups of residents attempted to block the distribution of food to migrants at El Trampolín Beach. Protesters later attacked and burned parts of a migrant camp at Benítez Beach, forcing some migrants to move to El Trampolín. Police intervened to disperse the protesters.
Spain’s central government has condemned the violence and called for humanitarian aid to continue reaching migrants. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has also called for calm, saying violence is not a way to resolve the situation.
