Police on the Chaos in Ceuta: Moroccan Migrants Abduct and Gang-rape Girls

A new wave of violence has erupted in Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, with reports of migrant groups abducting and sexually assaulting young girls. According to police officers and the police union Jupol, Moroccan migrants, many of them minors without documentation and adults lacking legal status, are systematically targeting women and children, dragging them into nearby hills to commit group sexual assaults. The incidents have escalated dramatically over recent days, creating a climate of fear among local residents. The attacks occur primarily near the Temporary Accommodation Center for migrants and illegal settlements that have spread along the cliffs. These areas are difficult to access and monitor, allowing perpetrators to operate with impunity. Victims are predominantly female adolescents, some of whom originate from the local community, while others are Moroccan or citizens of Sub-Saharan African nations. Reports indicate that these assaults take place in remote and hard-to-reach terrain, making intervention by authorities nearly impossible. Laura García, spokesperson for the Jupol union, stated that the number of incidents is significantly higher than officially recorded cases. Many victims are too frightened to come forward, leading to underreporting. She emphasized that the situation is dire, noting that “today in Ceuta, there are predators and pedophiles walking freely.” This statement underscores the severity of the crisis, which has reached a breaking point. On Thursday, a minor was repeatedly attacked by multiple Moroccan men on Avenida de Lisboa, one of the main thoroughfares. Local residents triggered an alarm and managed to apprehend one attacker, though the identities of the remaining assailants remain unknown. On the same day, a woman from Sub-Saharan Africa arrived at the main police station to report a similar attack by Moroccan-looking perpetrators. These incidents are not isolated; they appear to be part of a pattern that repeats daily. Police officers describe the incidents as ongoing and systemic. They have observed approximately thirty Moroccan girls, some barely ten years old, hiding beneath police vehicles due to fear of being assaulted by men who have occupied nearby slopes. García has repeatedly described how groups of women and girls stay close to police cars near the Temporary Accommodation Center, fearing sexual assault upon separation. Minister for Equality Ana Redondo maintains that teenage girls are not wandering the streets but are instead in safe spaces receiving necessary care. However, this claim contradicts accounts from police, doctors, and residents, who report a stark disparity between official statements and the reality on the ground. The discrepancy highlights the growing distrust in government assurances. Recent developments further exacerbate the already dire situation. After a mass crossing of the border at the end of last month, approximately 70,000 migrants have gathered in a city home to around 84,000 residents. This influx has led to a complete breakdown in reception centers, forcing many back across the border while leaving thousands of young men behind. The streets have transformed into makeshift camps, littered with trash, food waste, urine, and human excrement. Children’s parks are contaminated with feces, and hospitals report rising cases of scabies, tuberculosis, and impetigo. A doctor has warned of a public health disaster unfolding before their eyes. Residents express deep frustration and disillusionment. Women are packing up and leaving, describing daily terror inflicted upon their daughters. One mother told reporters her 16-year-old daughter can no longer go anywhere without parental supervision. Sisters Yoli and María José have fled the city, expressing feelings of shame and abandonment, especially as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez spends his holidays elsewhere. With the state failing to protect women, locals have taken matters into their own hands, establishing their own shelter for women's safety. An activist known as “Barbie Gaza,” Ano Alcalde, a member of the Free Palestine movement and a local influencer, claims the streets of Ceuta are entirely safe and accuses fearful residents of xenophobia. While she insists everything is under control, footage shows her quickly moving away from groups of migrants, suggesting otherwise. Her defiant stance contrasts sharply with the lived experiences of those enduring the crisis.