Ceuta protests leave four arrested, police injured and attacks on journalists in Madrid

Four individuals were detained and four police officers injured during clashes with demonstrators following a rally held in front of Spain's Congress of Deputies. Two of the injured officers were under the age of 18. The demonstration, which took place on Wednesday, was organized by residents of Ceuta living in Madrid under the banner "Ceuta Unites Us." However, members of the far-right group Núcleo Nacional also participated in the gathering. According to the Government Delegation in Madrid, the detentions occurred due to disorderly conduct and attempted attacks against authority. Three of the injured officers sustained minor injuries, while one required further assessment. The protest came after the Government Delegation in Madrid denied allegations that it had prohibited the demonstration in support of Ceuta, which had been scheduled for Wednesday evening in Madrid’s Cibeles Square. The Madrid City Council claimed the government had prevented the event, accusing the administration led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of attempting to suppress public demonstrations in support of Ceuta's population. In response, the Government Delegation clarified that the city council could hold the event as an institutional act, not as a manifestation protected by the right to assembly. It emphasized that local governments cannot claim this right when acting on behalf of the municipal administration, as ruled by the Constitutional Court. According to sources, the Government Delegation did not prohibit the event nor prevent its occurrence. Instead, it clarified that when an event is organized by a city council, it should be considered an institutional act rather than a demonstration based on the right to assembly. The delegation stated that such events can proceed normally if organized by a city council or communicated by an individual to the Government Delegation. Meanwhile, the demonstration in front of the Congress ended with confrontations between protesters and police, resulting in four arrests and four injured officers. During the demonstration, police used anti-riot equipment to respond to objects thrown at them by demonstrators. After the police intervention, groups of protesters dispersed through streets near the Congress shouting racist slogans. The demonstration, organized by citizens of Ceuta residing in Madrid, saw participation from far-right groups such as Núcleo Nacional. Among the chants heard were statements such as "Spain is Christian and not Muslim," "Muslim is he who does not row," and "It is invasion, not immigration." During the demonstration, several journalists were verbally attacked and physically assaulted while trying to report on the event. Police intervened after incidents involving reporters from La Sexta and TVE, while public television showed how some demonstrators deliberately hindered live broadcasts from their teams. Images broadcast by RTVE showed groups surrounding reporters, covering cameras with flags, and hurling insults. One incident captured footage of a demonstrator standing inches away from a journalist and threatening to strike him with his head. Fascist salutes with raised arms and groups singing the "Cara al Sol" were also observed, alongside demonstrators displaying neo-Nazi symbols. The Government Delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín, condemned the "violent acts" recorded after the demonstrations and expressed support for the injured police officers. Demonstrations took place throughout Spain on Wednesday. The largest in Madrid occurred in Cibeles Square, organized by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP). The Government Delegation estimated attendance at 50,000 people, while the Madrid City Council increased the estimate to 150,000. Demonstrations also attracted thousands outside Madrid. Approximately 25,000 attended in Valencia, around 50,000 in Málaga, 40,000 in Seville, and 25,000 filled Zaragoza's Plaza del Pilar, according to reports after the mobilizations. In Ceuta itself, more than 25,000 people marched through the streets under the slogan "Ceuta Is Not For Sale, Ceuta Must Be Defended." In Barcelona, approximately 1,500 people gathered in Plaça de Sant Jaume, according to the Urban Guard. In Cibeles Square, although the demonstration was presented as a show of solidarity with the autonomous city, the protest was marked by criticism of the government. Demands for the resignation and imprisonment of President Pedro Sánchez and banners against immigration were common among attendees, who chanted slogans such as "Ceuta Is Not For Sale, Ceuta Must Be Defended."