Death toll hits 18 as thousands storm Ceuta border

State television TVE estimates that between 2,000 and 3,000 people bypassed security barriers on Thursday. Residents of the adjacent Moroccan city of Fnideq noted that the majority of successful crossings occurred before midday, catching border authorities off guard. The rapid escalation forced the Spanish government to deploy military and police reinforcements to the territory to stabilize the perimeter.

Ceuta and the nearby enclave of Melilla serve as the only land access points for migrants entering the European Union from the African continent. These territories remain frequent flashpoints for migration crises, as individuals seeking entry to Europe regularly gather in the border regions to attempt mass crossings.