Independent reporter Nick Shirley posted video showing him and a colleague chased by a man who allegedly carried a knife while they reported in Ceuta amid a large migrant arrival. The attacker hurled rocks and bottles and demanded the camera be turned off; Spanish police later escorted the journalists to safety. Shirley also filmed crowded reception centers and migrants chanting "Viva España." The episode coincided with political reactions, including comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump.
‘He Has a Knife!’ Reporter Nick Shirley Chased in Ceuta Amid Migrant Surge
‘He Has a Knife!’ Nick Shirley Attacked and Chased in New Video on Spain’s Migrant Crisis
Independent, right-of-center reporter Nick Shirley released footage showing him and a colleague chased by a knife-wielding assailant while reporting in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta during a large migrant arrival from Morocco.
Video Shows Violent Confrontation
In the video posted Monday, Shirley shouts, "He has a knife!" as the pair sprint along a street. A man can be heard shouting, "I'm going to stab both of you," and hurling rocks and bottles while demanding that Shirley "cut the camera." The footage is tense and chaotic; it is difficult to clearly see the knife Shirley refers to as they flee.
Police Response and Aftermath
The clip then shows Shirley stepping out of a Spanish police patrol car. "We finished with a knife chase down the hill and then got escorted back up to our car from the Spanish police," he says in the footage. Spanish officers intervened and escorted the journalists to safety.
Reporting From Ceuta
Earlier in the report, Shirley speaks with several young Moroccan men and teenagers who arrived in Ceuta during last week’s influx. Many in the crowd are heard shouting, "Viva España!" while others direct salutations toward Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Shirley also toured one of the migrant reception centers, where dozens of men were held in crowded conditions. "They're showering out of these buckets, it's actually really sad to see this," he reports as he inspects the facility.
Political Reaction
About the time Shirley’s footage circulated online, former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the migration event, saying he believed he had inherited a larger illegal immigration problem from the Biden administration. Jason Cohen contributed to this story.
Context: Ceuta is a Spanish exclave on the North African coast bordering Morocco. Authorities said roughly 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta during last week’s surge, creating a humanitarian and political challenge for Spain and the European Union.
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