Declassified Files Reveal Spain's Intelligence Warned of Ceuta Border Crisis Prior to Mass Crossings

Newly declassified documents indicate that Spain's intelligence services issued warnings regarding potential mass migrations of asylum seekers and migrants into Ceuta just before tens of thousands arrived in the Spanish enclave in late July.

Released on Wednesday, the dossier of 40 documents emerges amidst ongoing protests in Ceuta concerning the Spanish government's crisis management and questions surrounding the involvement of neighbouring Morocco.

The files reveal that on July 29—the day prior to over 72,000 individuals crossing into Ceuta from Morocco—the National Intelligence Center (CNI) transmitted a WhatsApp alert to the government’s delegation in the city, highlighting social media calls "for an assault on the fence and by sea tomorrow at 8 pm". The alert noted, "There are two different groups with a total of 180,000 followers, just to give you an idea of its scale."

Simultaneously, CNI alerted Moroccan intelligence agencies DGST and DGED regarding plans for migrants to scale the border fence or swim around it, noting that the timing could coincide with Morocco's national Throne Day on July 30.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez disputed the assertion that these declassified documents demonstrated advanced knowledge of a border crisis matching the actual events of July 30 and 31. Writing on X, Sanchez stated, "The existence of this campaign was known to other institutions and was being monitored, but in no way did it constitute or could it be interpreted as an indicator of the scale, nature, or probability of what happened afterward."

Morocco did not immediately issue a comment. Previously, Sanchez asserted there was no proof of Moroccan complicity, despite a July police leak alleging "total permissiveness" by Moroccan law enforcement during the border surge.

A midday declassified CNI document from July 30 stated it was "highly likely that the Moroccan authorities are not actively encouraging the migratory wave, but have so far acted in a negligent and passive manner," adding that operational responses beyond deploying a limited number of riot units were absent. Another note from the same day indicated that numerous individuals were already "waiting to jump into the water to reach Ceuta" on the night of July 29, as insufficient Moroccan police and gendarme presence failed to curb the crowds.

More than a month after the incident, approximately 5,000 migrants and asylum seekers, including 1,200 minors, remain in Ceuta according to government figures, while local authorities estimate up to 10,000 people. Madrid has committed $357m in aid to address unhoused individuals within the city. Meanwhile, opposition figures criticized the administration for inaction despite prior warnings, with Popular Party parliamentary spokeswoman Ester Munoz telling reporters, "The government knew everything that was happening… They had the information. They are directly responsible for the invasion of Ceuta."