Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Spain Spy Agency Warned of Ceuta Storm Before Mass Crossing
Spain’s spy agency learned that many migrants might try to enter Ceuta from Morocco.
It warned Moroccan intelligence agencies and Spanish officials about these plans on July 29.
The warning mentioned people climbing the border fence or swimming around it.
The next day, a very large number of migrants crossed into Ceuta.
Spanish officials are now being questioned about whether they did enough to prepare.
Spain released documents showing that the situation had been worsening for several days.
The foreign minister said nobody had warned him how large the crossing would be.
Spanish leaders also said they had not found proof that Morocco organized the crossing.
Spain’s National Intelligence Centre warned Morocco and Spanish officials on July 29 about plans to enter Ceuta by scaling the fence or swimming around it.
The warning cited two social-media groups with a combined 180,000 followers and came one day before the mass crossing.
More than 70,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta on July 30, according to the report, while NGOs estimated that 140 people died.
Spain released 40 intelligence reports and communications covering the Ceuta crisis from July 1 to July 31.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the documents did not warn Spain about the scale of the surge, while the government said there was no evidence Morocco organized it.
- Who
- Spain’s National Intelligence Centre, Moroccan intelligence agencies, Spanish officials, and migrants seeking to enter Ceuta.
- What
- Declassified documents show that Spain warned of plans for a mass migrant entry before the July 30 crossing.
- When
- The warning was issued on July 29, one day before the crossing; the documents cover July 1–31.
- Where
- Ceuta, Spain’s North African enclave, and the nearby Moroccan coast.
- Why
- The warning said migrants planned to exploit Morocco’s Throne Day celebrations by scaling the border fence or swimming around it.
Evidence of Advance Warning
Warning Did Not Predict the Scale
What the intelligence showed
Evidence of Advance Warning
The National Intelligence Centre warned of plans to storm Ceuta and cited large social-media groups, suggesting Spanish and Moroccan authorities had advance notice of possible incursions.
Warning Did Not Predict the Scale
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said the documents showed no warning of the magnitude of the July 30 surge.
Morocco’s role
Evidence of Advance Warning
Spain’s Interior Ministry reported passivity by Moroccan border police despite plans to reinforce the border with 1,000 additional personnel, according to its July 30 report.
Warning Did Not Predict the Scale
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Spain found no evidence that Moroccan authorities orchestrated the border rush.
Government preparedness
Evidence of Advance Warning
The released reports described a worsening crisis, including about 1,700 arrivals by sea since July 25, raising questions about whether sufficient preventive measures were taken.
Warning Did Not Predict the Scale
Spanish officials maintain that the available information did not indicate the eventual scale of the crossing, limiting what could have been anticipated.
- Warning date
- July 29
- Crossing date
- July 30
- Social-media reach cited
- Two groups with a combined 180,000 followers
- Documents released
- 40 intelligence reports, alerts, and communications
- Migrants reported to have crossed
- More than 70,000
- Estimated deaths
- NGOs estimated that 140 people died
- Migrants remaining in Ceuta
- More than 10,000, including unaccompanied minors, six weeks later