Ceuta: Spanish military accused of violence against migrants

Ceuta Spanish military migrant crisis pepper spray human rights

Verified video footage has surfaced showing Spanish military personnel using excessive force against migrants in Ceuta. The recordings depict soldiers chasing individuals, tackling them to the ground, and striking them with batons. Some footage also shows migrants being pushed into ditches or against walls.

In response to reports of aggression and the complex security situation, the Spanish Ministry of Defense has issued a protocol authorizing the use of pepper spray for military personnel. The new guidelines permit the use of the spray in three specific scenarios: to counter aggressive behavior, to respond to violent actions, or to protect property. The Ministry has also distributed the A-50 pepper spray to troops deployed in the city as a personal defense tool.

The Spanish Government has condemned the recorded violence and announced an internal investigation into the alleged assaults. While the Ministry of Defense has not provided detailed comments on specific incidents, the deployment of military personnel in roles typically reserved for police or civil guard forces has drawn significant scrutiny and political pressure.

Entities

ATME · Asociación de Tropa y Marinería Española · Ceuta · Ministry of Defense · Morocco · Spanish Armed Forces · Spanish Government · Spanish Ministry of Defense · elDiario.es

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] Verified videos confirm Spanish military personnel beat migrants in Ceuta during a mass influx in late July. diariosocialista.net · www.eldiario.es
[● 5 SOURCES] Videos show military personnel using batons to strike migrants and pushing them into ditches or against walls. www.ekriti.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.eldiario.es · diariosocialista.net · www.moncloa.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The association Hazte Oír filed an administrative complaint with the Ministry of Defense regarding the operational protection of soldiers. okdiario.com
[● 5 SOURCES] The Spanish Government has condemned the violence and announced an internal investigation into the alleged assaults by military personnel. www.ekriti.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.eldiario.es · diariosocialista.net · www.moncloa.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Approximately thirty people surrounded and pelted a military patrol vehicle with stones in Ceuta. diariosocialista.net
[● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Defense has issued pepper spray to military personnel in Ceuta as a self-defense tool. www.navarrainformacion.es · okdiario.com · www.que.es
[○ 1 SOURCE] A new protocol allows the use of pepper spray in cases of aggressive behavior, violent actions, or protection of property. www.que.es
[● 2 SOURCES] Reports indicate that pepper spray has been used against migrant minors during routine activities. diariosocialista.net · www.navarrainformacion.es