Spanish Police Intelligence Accuses Morocco of Orchestrating Migrant Surge to Ceuta

A dramatic intelligence report from Spain's national police suggests that Morocco planned and managed the mass influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The report, submitted to a court, claims that Moroccan security forces directed the migrant wave as a deliberate operation aimed at collapsing Spanish border control systems and advancing territorial claims on Ceuta and the nearby enclave of Melilla. According to the findings, Moroccan police agents, both in uniform and civilian attire, actively guided the crowds into Spanish territory.

This intelligence contradicts statements made by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had initially blamed external factors like online campaigns linked to Russia and Israel for the surge, rather than directly accusing Morocco. Sánchez's government has emphasized the need for cooperation with Morocco to resolve the crisis, a stance that has drawn criticism. The Spanish Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, rebuked Sánchez for "spreading slanderous lies" to deflect from his own management failures.

Amidst the migrant crisis, Prime Minister Sánchez also publicly criticized King Felipe VI for his absence from Ceuta during the severe immigration crisis, noting the King had not visited the city since his ascension to the throne. While the King's office stated a visit would occur when conditions were right, Sánchez's remarks broke with the tradition of government members refraining from direct criticism of the monarchy.

Sánchez acknowledged that approximately 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta, a figure higher than previously reported, and described the situation as tense with violent clashes and arson. He stated that around 1,200 unaccompanied minors would be transferred to shelters in Spain, while most other migrants, deemed to have arrived for economic reasons, were slated for deportation.

The crisis has deepened political instability in Spain, with Sánchez refusing to rule out early general elections. He expressed a desire to complete his term and run again but sounded less resolute than before, warning against the rise of the far-right Vox party.