Police Report Surfaces, Accusing Morocco of “Behind-the-Scenes Orchestration”
At the heart of the political firestorm is a document submitted by the National Center for Immigration and Borders (CENIF), a unit of Spain’s National Police, to the National High Court. The report states that the mass influx of migrants in Ceuta from July 30-31 was not a spontaneous event but an operation guided and orchestrated by Moroccan Gendarmerie and plainclothes officers. If the judicial investigation ultimately confirms this as a coordinated action by a foreign power, the National High Court will formally assume jurisdiction over the case.
However, the Spanish central government’s public stance differs significantly from the report’s conclusions. Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated the government had no prior knowledge of the document and has requested the police to clarify its origin and creation date. The Director-General of the National Police subsequently informed the Ministry that there is currently no official police report attributing responsibility to Morocco. Government officials have urged caution, emphasizing that conclusions should only be drawn after all facts are fully verified.
Political Divide Deepens as Opposition Cries “Hybrid Warfare”
This controversial report quickly became a weapon for opposition parties to attack the ruling coalition. People’s Party (PP) leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo, during a visit to Ceuta, strongly accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government of deliberately hiding the truth and deceiving the public. He demanded the immediate summoning of the Moroccan ambassador to Spain and the recall of the Spanish ambassador to Morocco for consultations, while reiterating his call for a snap general election. Furthermore, the PP and the far-right Vox party have taken their protests to the European Parliament in Brussels, denouncing the migrant crisis as “hybrid warfare” initiated by Morocco and urging the EU to impose sanctions, including the suspension of agreements and visas.
Dissent has also emerged within the ruling coalition. The leftist Sumar coalition believes that regardless of the report’s final validation, Morocco should be held accountable for its actions or inaction in border control. The United Left (IU) faction within Sumar has explicitly stated that if it is proven that Minister Marlaska knew about the report beforehand, he must resign. Additionally, the main police union, JUPOL, has also spoken out, demanding political accountability from several high-ranking officials, including the Minister of the Interior.
Ceuta Faces Unprecedented Damage, Central Government Allocates Major Aid Package
During the official Ceuta Day ceremony on September 2, local President Juan Jesús Vivas stated that the city had suffered a “near-devastating blow” and that its territorial integrity had been severely violated. He called for a full investigation and the swift, legally-compliant repatriation of the migrants who entered illegally in late July. In response, Prime Minister Sánchez released a video acknowledging the frustration of Ceuta’s residents with the national response, and the Spanish Royal Family expressed their support for the city via social media.
In the month since the crisis began, Ceuta’s public security and services have been under immense strain. The city has seen ongoing incidents of conflict among migrants, assaults on police, and the throwing of stones at military vehicles. According to medical authorities, a total of 10,725 medical consultations have been provided to migrants over the past month, averaging 331 per day, primarily for various types of injuries. To alleviate local pressure, the Spanish central government has approved a special allocation of €309 million for crisis management. Nationwide, the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces has organized rallies in solidarity with Ceuta, and in Ceuta itself, over 500 citizens participated in a unity run. Meanwhile, the Civil Guard has begun transferring 17 sub-Saharan migrants stranded on the Chafarinas Islands to Melilla to distribute border control pressure.
