Newly declassified government documents have revealed that Spain’s National Intelligence Service (CNI) alerted authorities to potential mass migration attempts into the North African exclave of Ceuta one day before a major surge occurred. On July 29, the CNI notified Moroccan and local Ceuta officials that social media groups were coordinating plans for a large-scale crossing to coincide with Throne Day on July 30.
The intelligence reports identified WhatsApp and Facebook activity reaching approximately 180,000 users, with messages suggesting that border authorities would be distracted by holiday celebrations. Despite these warnings, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has maintained that the government could not have predicted the scale of the event, which saw at least 72,000 people cross the border on July 30 and 31. According to the mayor of Ceuta, at least 100 individuals died during the crossing, and thousands remain in the city, leading to local unrest.
The release of these documents follows intense political pressure and accusations that the administration misled the public. Opposition figures, including members of the People's Party and Vox, have criticized the government, with some calling for legal accountability. Ester Muñoz of the People's Party stated that the government was "directly responsible" for the situation given the prior information.
Government officials continue to defend their response. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated he was unaware of any report that could have anticipated the magnitude of the crisis. Similarly, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, the central government's delegate in Ceuta, characterized the CNI communications as an "exchange of information" rather than a formal alert. While a leaked police report previously suggested potential Moroccan involvement in the incident, Prime Minister Sánchez has consistently denied any evidence of Moroccan complicity.
Source: BBC News
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.