Declassified documents indicate that Spain's intelligence services warned of possible mass crossings by migrants and asylum seekers into Ceuta shortly before a significant influx occurred in late July. The release of 40 documents on Wednesday coincided with ongoing protests in Ceuta regarding the Spanish government's response to the situation and inquiries into Morocco's involvement.
On July 29, the National Intelligence Center (CNI) alerted the Spanish government's delegation in Ceuta via WhatsApp about social media calls for an assault on the border fence and sea crossing planned for the following day at 8 PM. The message noted that two social media groups had a combined total of 180,000 followers, highlighting the scale of the situation.
Additionally, CNI informed Moroccan intelligence agencies about the plans for migrants to breach the border by climbing or swimming around the fence, suggesting that the timing could coincide with Morocco's national Throne Day on July 30.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Wednesday that the documents did not indicate prior knowledge of a crisis of the magnitude that unfolded between July 30 and 31. He noted that while the campaign was monitored, it did not predict the scale or nature of the subsequent events. There was no immediate response from Moroccan authorities.
Sanchez previously asserted that there was no evidence of Moroccan complicity in the crisis, despite a leaked police report from July that suggested Moroccan police exhibited 'total permissiveness' during the border incident. A CNI document from July 30 indicated that Moroccan authorities were likely not encouraging the migrant wave but had acted negligently and passively.
The document stated that many individuals were already prepared to swim to Ceuta on the night of July 29, and that the presence of Moroccan police was insufficient to manage the crowd, leading to several hundred migrants successfully crossing that night.
As of now, approximately 5,000 migrants and asylum seekers, including 1,200 minors, remain in Ceuta, according to the Spanish government, while local officials estimate the number could be as high as 10,000. The city has a population of about 84,000.
In response to the situation, Madrid has committed $357 million in aid as some individuals continue to lack housing. The opposition has criticized the government for its inaction despite prior warnings, with Ester Munoz, a spokesperson for the right-wing Popular Party, stating that the government had the necessary information and is directly responsible for the situation in Ceuta.