Spain investigates military torture allegations in Ceuta

The Spanish Ministry of Defense has launched an internal investigation and referred a report to the prosecutor's office following allegations of torture and mistreatment of migrants in Ceuta. The move comes after Amnesty International documented 22 cases of alleged abuse by Spanish military personnel in the North African enclave.

Amnesty International reported that soldiers engaged in patterns of violence, including beating, humiliating, and chasing migrants—including unaccompanied women and children—during nighttime operations. The organization stated that analyzed video and photographic evidence showed instances of excessive force, such as soldiers using hooded identities and spraying irritants into the faces of migrants before pushing them back across the border.

The allegations follow a period of intense migration pressure in Ceuta, where over 72,000 people crossed the border from Morocco in late July. While many returned, approximately 10,000 migrants remain in the enclave, straining local resources. The Ministry of Defense has ordered the Operations Command to investigate to determine individual responsibilities.