National Police officer wounded by Moroccan fugitive in Ceuta following violent arrest
A National Police officer suffered a cut above the eyebrow after being attacked with a stone by a Moroccan fugitive during his arrest in Ceuta.
National Police officer wounded with stone while arresting Moroccan fugitive in Ceuta
A National Police officer was wounded with a cut above his left eyebrow after being attacked with a stone by a Moroccan fugitive during his arrest in the Sarchal neighbourhood in Ceuta. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning. According to El Pueblo de Ceuta—identified as a source in Google News ES—Crime (es)—the detainee is a criminal wanted by Morocco who entered the autonomous city irregularly on 30 July, amid the human surge that crossed the border that day.
The officer, identified in the report by the fictitious name Luis, is 1.90 metres tall and weighs 124 kilogrammes. Despite his build and experience, he required the intervention of his shift partner—referred to as Alfonso—to subdue the suspect. Both belong to the Citizen Care Group (GAC), the National Police unit responsible for immediately responding to emergencies in the city.
A tattoo on the forearm identified the fugitive
The officers were alerted during the morning via a tip-off from a member of the public: an individual had recognised the wanted man in the Sarchal area thanks to a photograph published on social media with a warning. The identifying feature was a striking feather-shaped tattoo on the right forearm. The information was passed to the National Police's Intelligent Command, Communication and Control Centre (CIMACC).
Luis and Alfonso travelled to the area alone, as the rest of the backup officers were occupied at the Esperanza youth centre and on other duties. Along the Camino de Ronda they spotted a group of five individuals. They believed they recognised their target and got out of the vehicle to proceed with identification of all of them.
They maintained a safe distance, requested documentation—which all five refused to carry—and began to search them one by one. The fugitive was the fourth in line.
The suspect attacked as soon as he saw his companions move away
When Luis asked his partner to move the rest of the group away so he could search the fugitive without interference, the detainee's attitude changed immediately. "It was two against five," recalls the source consulted by the newspaper. The moment he saw his companions move away, the man lunged at the officer and began throwing punches at him.
A fight then ensued involving blows, punches and knee strikes. The officer knocked him to the ground on several occasions, but the fugitive attempted to flee each time he could. At one point, whilst both continued grappling on the ground, the detainee picked up a stone and struck the police officer in the face, causing the cut above his left eyebrow.
Alfonso, who was at that moment controlling the other four individuals, came to help his partner as soon as he could free himself from them. Together they managed to subdue the fugitive. "The guy knew how to fight and defend himself perfectly," the sources consulted stated.
Arrested for assault on authority, judge orders his expulsion
Once immobilised, the officers handcuffed him, read him his rights and communicated the reason for the arrest. They transported him in the police vehicle to the station, where he was placed in a cell accused of the offence of assault on officers of the authority. The following morning, Thursday, he was brought before the court. Both officers had to give statements and were examined by a forensic doctor. On Thursday afternoon, the judge ordered the detainee's expulsion to Morocco.
"Increasingly aggressive, they're carrying knives now"
The wounded officer, who spoke anonymously with El Pueblo de Ceuta, warned that situations such as the one described occur "every day and at all hours" in the city. "People need to know there is danger. That they are not all works of charity. They are becoming increasingly aggressive, they are gaining confidence," he stated.
The newspaper's sources added that the escalation in violence has reached a new level: "This was with a stone because they didn't have anything else at hand, but right now some are already armed with knives."
The officers expressed their hope that, once the migrants who remain on Ceuta's streets are accommodated in centres where they are "well protected and sheltered," the situation can be brought under control. At the same time, they called for reinforcements: "We are requesting more officers from all the Security Forces and Bodies, as well as the Army, to come to the city. They are needed on the streets."
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)