Police clear Ceuta beach camp before royal visit

Spanish police cleared the Guano beach encampment in Ceuta on Sunday, two days before King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were scheduled to visit the Spanish enclave bordering Morocco. The operation removed the last remaining beach camp, according to reports, though accounts differ on its exact location and estimated population. The National Police said the clearance was necessary to maintain public order and security. Police, Civil Guard, local police and military personnel took part. One account reported that more than 350 officers were deployed, while others described hundreds of personnel. Authorities did not provide a final count of how many people were transferred, left before the operation or returned to Morocco. Reports estimated that roughly 400 to 500 people had been living at the Guano site. Adults were taken by bus to temporary facilities for registration or processing before being moved to government accommodation, accounts said. Children were separated from adults and were to be transferred separately to reception facilities. Some people reportedly left the area before officers arrived, while others went to nearby hills during the operation.