Spanish intelligence alerted officials to planned mass border breach before Ceuta influx
Declassified documents reveal Spain's National Intelligence Center warned the government and Morocco about social media calls for a mass crossing into Ceuta on July 30. The alert came a day before more than 72,000 people entered the enclave. The documents also show the agency warned Moroccan intelligence of plans to climb the fence or swim around it.
The declassified files reveal that on July 29, Spain's National Intelligence Center messaged government officials in Ceuta about social media groups with 180,000 followers planning a border breach the following evening. Simultaneously, the agency alerted Morocco's intelligence services to potential fence climbing or swimming, noting the timing aligned with the country's Throne Day celebrations.
A subsequent intelligence assessment from July 30 concluded Moroccan authorities likely did not actively orchestrate the influx but displayed negligent and passive conduct, deploying only minimal riot control units. Despite these warnings, over 72,000 people crossed, and thousands remain in the enclave weeks later, with local officials citing significantly higher numbers than the central government's count.
The disclosure could heighten public scrutiny of Spain's crisis management and fuel ongoing protests in Ceuta, where residents may feel their security was compromised. It may also strain Madrid's relations with Rabat, as questions persist about Morocco's role. The gap between early warnings and the eventual scale of the influx could lead to broader demands for improved intelligence-sharing protocols and accountability across European border agencies.