Thousands demonstrate in Madrid and Ceuta against the government's migration policy

Police with helmets and batons, firecrackers: these are the offshoots of a demonstration in Madrid. What happened?

On Wednesday, thousands took to the streets in both the Spanish capital and the exclave of Ceuta to demonstrate against the central government in Madrid. They accuse Prime Minister Sánchez and his cabinet of failing in the migration crisis surrounding the Ceuta exclave.

»I come from Madrid and we have to support Ceuta. A united Ceuta will never be ripped off. Ceuta belongs to Spain and not to Morocco. Ceuta is Spanish.«

»What happened was an invasion by Morocco. The government here has done nothing and continues to do nothing. That's why we have to take to the streets, demonstrate and support Ceuta. Ceuta and Melilla belong to Spain. They are located in Africa, on the African continent. In the long term, I believe that Morocco wants to acquire these areas.«

»What do we demand from the government? I think all the people of Ceuta want these invaders to return to their land.«

Around five weeks ago, more than 70,000 people crossed the border between Morocco and the city of Ceuta, which has a population of 80,000. According to authorities, more than 10,000 people are apparently still waiting in makeshift camps there, including unaccompanied minors.

For legal reasons, Spain is not allowed to deport people collectively, but must decide each asylum application individually. That could take weeks or months.