Sunbathers at a busy beach in southern Spain sprang into action over the weekend when a group of migrants arrived by boat and attempted to come ashore, the New York Post reports. The incident occurred midday on Sunday at Sotillo Beach in Castell de Ferro, Granada, a popular spot in Andalusia. Witnesses described how a speedboat carrying about 13 men—believed to be of North African origin—approached the packed beach slowly, at first appearing mundane to onlookers.
According to accounts from locals and video footage shared online, the men suddenly dived into the water and headed for the shore. Many beachgoers were momentarily stunned, thinking the boat was recreational.
“We all stood there staring, not quite knowing what was happening,” said local restaurant owner Alberto García. “We thought it was a recreational boat, but when we saw people starting to throw objects into the water and getting out, we realized it wasn’t normal.”
Illegals on Sunday storm the beach in Granada and get tackled by people vacationing.
The tide is turning. People in the West are fed up with the invasions.
Some illegals did escape, but others were held until authorities arrived.
Don’t mess with one’s vacation!
(thesun on TT) pic.twitter.com/z62ekVzlP9
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) August 4, 2025
According to Breitbart, Garcia noted that similar landings have happened previously at the same beach, but unlike a previous incident last year where the migrants left unimpeded, this time there was a “stronger response” from tourists and residents.
The dramatic scene quickly escalated. Some migrants attempted to blend in with tourists on the sand, while others tried to escape the area. However, several beachgoers, including sunbathers in swimsuits, took action by tackling and restraining some of the newcomers until local police and Spain’s Civil Guard arrived. Viral videos show a man in swim trunks using his knee to hold one migrant to the ground.
“The local paper said that the nine detained migrants are now being held in the Temporary Foreigner Assistance Center (CATE) at the nearby port of Motril,” according to Breitbart.
Spain, alongside other Mediterranean countries like Italy, has reportedly been working closely with African governments—including Morocco—over the past year to curb illegal migration. As reported by InfoMigrants, illegal arrivals to Spain’s Canary Islands dropped from more than 19,000 in July last year to approximately 11,000 during the same period this year.