Locals in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta stormed and set fire to a makeshift migrant camp on Thursday, as tensions flare over the recent arrival of tens of thousands of migrants from neighboring Morocco. Video footage shows residents charging the camp, throwing belongings into the water, and unfurling Spanish flags before igniting fires.

Spain's interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has called for calm, stating that violence is not a solution to the complex situation. "I call for calm and an end to any form of violence, because violence is not the way to resolve any problem with the complexity' of the situation in Ceuta," he told Spanish parliament.

The incident occurred as demonstrations by Ceuta residents have intensified in recent days. On Thursday, protesters clashed with police on a beach where migrants had been staying. In a separate incident, a soldier was injured when migrants reportedly threw stones at troops, leading to 12 arrests.

While most of the over 70,000 migrants who crossed into Ceuta from Morocco last month have since returned, an estimated 3,500 to 7,000 individuals remain. Many of these have resorted to establishing temporary encampments on the beach.

Locals threw migrants' belongings including bags into the sea before unfurling Spanish flags

Juan Vivas, the head of Ceuta's local government, acknowledged that peaceful protests against the migrants are understandable but condemned acts of vandalism. "We totally reject the use of any kind of violence," he stated, emphasizing that "no one can or should take the law into their own hands."

Political parties on the right and far-right have called for the immediate deportation of the migrants. Grande-Marlaska has accused some of these parties of inciting hatred ahead of next year's general election.

Following the mass arrival of migrants, the Spanish government declared the situation a matter of national security. A plan has been established to manage the remaining migrants, including the creation of a 'single command' structure to coordinate resources. The government is also working to expedite the return of thousands of migrants still in the territory.

Hundreds of worried migrants watched on as police assembled a barrier between the protesters

The attack on the camp comes after residents clashed with police on the enclave in recent days

Despite most of the migrants returning to their native countries, some have stayed and set up shanty town encampments on the beach