Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has linked alleged disinformation surrounding the migration crisis in Ceuta to social media platforms associated with Russia, Israel and the international far right, saying that they were using migration to attack Spain and Europe.

Sánchez said false information had spread in connection with a Supreme Court ruling preventing the immediate return of migrants who swim across the border. Criminal organizations subsequently exploited the situation. The prime minister stressed that state actors may not have been behind the disinformation and that the circumstances surrounding the crisis were still under investigation.

At the end of July, approximately 70,000 people entered the Spanish city of Ceuta. Nine out of 10 have already returned, while about 5,000 migrants remain in the city, including 1,200 minors.

Sánchez also rejected suspicions that Moroccan authorities were involved in the mass arrival of migrants. He said neither the security forces nor the National Intelligence Center had any information suggesting this. On the contrary, he described cooperation with Morocco as very positive.

Over 30 days, the Spanish government increased accommodation capacity for migrants from 500 to 3,300 beds and plans to expand it to 6,000. Sánchez also called on other European countries to show solidarity in addressing the migration situation.

(cadenaser, bak)