Sánchez Rejects Morocco Blame for Ceuta Crisis

The Spanish government says it has no evidence that Moroccan authorities organized the mass influx of migrants into Ceuta in July, despite a police report pointing to the involvement of Moroccan security forces.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told parliament on Thursday that no convincing evidence of Moroccan government involvement had emerged from Spain’s intelligence services or other official channels.

The police report, however, concludes that the influx of more than 70,000 people on 30 and 31 July was “planned” rather than spontaneous. It describes the response of Moroccan security forces as one of “total permissiveness” and says some uniformed officers guided migrants toward crossings through the water. Other individuals believed to be linked to the security forces allegedly monitored and directed the crowds.

The report does not identify who ultimately ordered or organized the operation.

Sánchez said the report had not been passed up the police chain of command or provided to the Interior Ministry and demanded an explanation for why ministers had not been informed.

Morocco denies deliberately facilitating the crossings.

(Reuters, bak)