Declassified Documents Show Spanish Intelligence Warned of Ceuta Crossing

Newly declassified security documents reveal that Spain's National Intelligence Service (CNI) alerted authorities about social media campaigns urging a mass migrant crossing into Ceuta just one day before tens of thousands of individuals entered the Spanish territory in North Africa. The release of over 40 documents by the Spanish government comes amid growing accusations that officials failed to disclose the full scope of the events surrounding the border influx.

On July 29, the CNI notified both Moroccan intelligence and Ceuta authorities that online groups were actively organizing a crossing planned for July 30. Intelligence officers identified WhatsApp and Facebook groups reaching roughly 180,000 individuals with messages urging them to take advantage of Morocco's Throne Day celebrations, suggesting local authorities would be distracted by parades. The CNI warned that migrants would attempt to enter the enclave by swimming around the border fence or going through it, and sent text messages directly to the central government's representation in Ceuta and the Civil Guard.

Scale of the Influx and Local Impact

Official figures from Ceuta's mayor indicate that at least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave on July 30 and July 31, predominantly by swimming. At least 100 people lost their lives during the attempt. While the majority of those who entered subsequently returned, up to 5,000 people remain in Ceuta, living on streets, beaches, or in temporary camps. The situation has triggered civil unrest, with some local residents destroying informal shelters and attempting to block humanitarian assistance over safety concerns. Additionally, prosecutors report that sexual assaults have been occurring almost daily in the city.

Political Backlash and Government Response

The revelations have drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse the administration of misleading the public. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously told parliament that officials possessed no information indicating the potential magnitude of the impending crisis, repeating on Spanish television shortly before the release that the arrival of so many migrants was unexpected. Conservative People's Party representative Ester Muñoz stated that the government held the information and was directly responsible for the outcome, while Vox politician Jorge Buxadé called for legal action against the administration.

In response, government officials continue to maintain that the available intelligence did not convey the actual proportion of the event. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated he was unaware of any report forecasting the scale of the July 30 events. A government source argued that the advance notifications were insufficient to anticipate the full dimensions of the crisis or prepare an adequate response in time. Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, the central government delegate in Ceuta, minimized the CNI's advance text messages, defining them as routine information exchanges rather than formal alerts.

Allegations Regarding Moroccan Involvement

The declassification follows persistent allegations in Spain that Moroccan authorities facilitated the border breach, supported in part by a leaked Spanish police report that pointed toward Moroccan police involvement. However, Prime Minister Sánchez maintains there is no evidence establishing Moroccan complicity in the mass crossing.