Spain Identifies Suspected Jihadists Among Migrants Who Crossed to Ceuta

Spanish authorities have identified several suspected jihadists among the thousands of people who crossed from Morocco into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta last week, according to reports.

Approximately 70,000 migrants crossed illegally into the autonomous city in North Africa before most returned across the border, a political crisis that has inflamed tensions with the European Union and fueled anti-immigration rhetoric.

Sources within Spain’s Civil Guard told The Objective that intelligence agents have identified individuals previously monitored by intelligence services for suspected links to Islamist extremism.

Video surveillance on the Ceuta border aided in identifying some of those under investigation during last Thursday’s crossing, according to the newspaper. Sources indicated that some individuals had been under investigation for several months, adding that "thousands" of other migrants might still be in Ceuta nearly a week later.

Separately, Spanish online newspaper El Español reported on Tuesday that counterterrorism specialists from Spain’s Interior Ministry have identified individuals previously under investigation on suspicion of terrorism among those who crossed last week.

Agents reportedly found "at least a dozen" people previously arrested, convicted, and deported to Morocco, the newspaper reported, adding that they could be among those not yet repatriated.

It was unclear from either report who the individuals under investigation were, or their alleged crimes. El Español reported that those identified had been investigated over "jihadist terrorism in Spain." Authorities were reportedly reviewing surveillance footage and social media posts.

The Independent contacted the Guardia Civil for comment.

Spain estimates that around 69,500 people have returned to Morocco over the past four days, exceeding initial estimates of approximately 50,000 arrivals in Ceuta on Thursday. Local official Alberto Gaitan stated that the city was processing 862 migrant minors, who have special legal protections against deportation.

Amid the chaos, 72 people are believed to have died on the Spanish side of the border, and 11 people died on the Moroccan side.

Under scrutiny over how the crisis unfolded, El Pais and Cadena SER radio, citing officials familiar with the matter, reported that Spanish intelligence services concluded that Morocco did not plan the mass crossing but allowed it to occur.

Moroccan border controls were gradually relaxed during July and allegedly removed as crowds surged toward the Tarajal crossing during Morocco's Throne Day holiday, according to reports.

The Objective reported that at the time of the crossing, only a few Civil Guard officers were policing the beach, and the Interior Ministry took over eight hours to react and send reinforcements.

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told reporters on Saturday that the foreign intelligence agency CNI, controlled by the Defence Ministry, did not warn him of an imminent surge—an issue El Pais reported had caused tensions between the two ministries.

Defence minister Margarita Robles declined to comment on whether the CNI had prior intelligence of the mass crossing, stating its work was secret and praising the "exceptional" work of Spanish security services personnel.

Morocco's Interior Ministry, meanwhile, blamed the surge on misinformation on social media, human trafficking networks, and a misinterpretation of a Spanish court ruling banning immediate returns of migrants intercepted at sea. This explanation aligned with Madrid's official view.

The EU’s migration chief stated on Tuesday that it was too early to link disinformation on the Ceuta crisis with Russia. They also indicated interference from smugglers and human traffickers prior to the crossing.