Spanish intelligence warned of ‘mass entry’ day before 70k reached Ceuta
Declassified documents reveal that Spanish intelligence agencies warned the government of a potential mass migration event in Ceuta a day before 70,000 people crossed the border. The disclosures contradict claims by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez that the government lacked prior information regarding the scale of the influx.
Why it matters
This report highlights a significant political accountability issue regarding border security and intelligence transparency in Spain.
Spain's intelligence and security agencies had warned of mass migration into the Spanish enclave. According to 40 documents declassified on Wednesday, the government and Moroccan counterparts were warned a day before more than 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta.The documents, which include intelligence reports, alerts and internal communications from July 1 to 31, show that Spanish agencies were tracking a growing movement of migrants and online calls for a mass crossing before the surge on July 30.The disclosures have put renewed pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has insisted that the government had no information indicating the scale or nature of the influx that followed.Intelligence warnings came a day before surgeOn July 29, Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI) warned of calls on social media for migrants to enter Ceuta by climbing the border fence or swimming around it the following day.In a WhatsApp message to the Spanish government's delegation in…
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