Spanish secret service warned of a mass rush to Ceuta

The Spanish secret service warned the authorities in Ceuta a day before the arrival of large numbers of migrants in July. This emerges from secret documents released by the Spanish government. Accordingly, on July 29, the CNI informed both the government representation in Ceuta and the Guardia Civil police unit about calls on social networks to cross the border. According to the documents, two corresponding groups had a total of around 180,000 followers.

In another communication from the CNI there was also talk of planned attempts to reach Ceuta by swimming and over the border fence. According to the released documents, the CNI also informed the Moroccan authorities. Ceuta is located on the Moroccan mainland on the Strait of Gibraltar.

According to government figures, up to 80,000 refugees came to Ceuta from Morocco on July 30th and 31st. Most then returned to Morocco. However, thousands remain in the Spanish exclave. According to official information, at least 100 people died trying to escape. After the incident, a debate broke out about the extent to which authorities had been warned and who was responsible for border crossings.

The Spanish government has therefore released around 40 documents from the period between July 1st and August 1st that were previously kept secret. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says he wants to prove that the government was not warned about the scale of the escape attempts. He himself accused Russia and Israel of spreading false information. The local authorities, however, had accused the central government of ignoring warning signs in advance of the border crossings.