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On 29 July, Spain’s National Intelligence Service (CNI) told Moroccan and Ceuta authorities that social media groups were encouraging migrants to cross the following day.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has insisted that the events of 30 July were impossible to predict, but opposition parties say the documents show the government misled Spaniards.
Sánchez had previously told parliament that there was “no information that conveyed the magnitude” of the “crisis we were going to suffer” on the last two days of July.
At least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July. Most swam around a border fence and at least 100 people died during the crossing, according to figures from Ceuta’s mayor.
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In a note on 29 July, the CNI told Moroccan intelligence it had identified WhatsApp and Facebook groups promoting an attempt by migrants to reach the Spanish exclave the following day, “both swimming and via the [border] fence”.
The CNI reported that around 180,000 people were receiving the messages, one of which read: “Whoever wants to cross has the last chance on Throne Day [30 July] at 8 the authorities will be distracted with the celebrations and parades.”
It also warned, via text message, the central government’s representation in Ceuta and the civil guard about the social media activity.
The messages are part of a tranche of more than 40 security documents linked to the Ceuta crossing that the government declassified following mounting pressure on Sánchez over his handling of the crisis and widespread allegations in Spain that Morocco had played a role in facilitating the crossings.
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Shortly before the documents were released on Wednesday, Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez told Spanish television that “the mass arrival of migrants was not expected”.
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The handling of this crisis has been pathetic. They had a difficult time staying in office after the next elections; now it’s completely impossible.
Dunno. With the beef and threats being thrown around by DJT, who knows what escalation is next if they flat out say it’s a agency operation executed through the government controlled us social medias?
Kinda understandable given the impossible PR balance of foreign intelligence malignancy and tinfoil danger.
I don’t deny the involvement of one side or the other, but 80,000 people entered that day; it’s impossible that no one noticed anything the day before. Spanish intelligence either saw it coming or they should all be ousted. The government denies it to cover up its own incompetence; the fact that others take advantage of that incompetence doesn’t make them any less incompetent.
Yes, this is the logical conclusion. I guess I tend to leave it open, as it seems more and more information is withheld from the public lately. Often intelligence services warn right before significant events, sometimes preventative measures are taken, sometimes not. Compare to October 7. Very possible there is some undisclosed reasoning, but we cannot know for sure.
