Previous warnings ignored in the Ceuta influx

The Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, recently denied that any intelligence service had warned about the influx of migrants that entered Ceuta last week. However, according to ABC, several Spanish intelligence services did notify of a high probability of a mass assault days before the incident.

The Armed Forces Intelligence Centre (Cifas), an entity under the Chief of the General Staff of Defence (JEMAD), alerted of a high probability of a mass assault three days before the incident. Additionally, other intelligence services such as the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) and the Intelligence Service of the Civil Guard also issued prior warnings.

Ceuta's president, Juan Jesús Vivas, attempted to contact Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to warn about the influx of migrants. However, Vivas only managed to speak with the chief of cabinet of the government leader, Diego Rubio.

Defence Minister Margarita Robles has come to the defence of the intelligence services, both military and from the Interior Ministry, expressing her "gratitude to the men and women of the CNI, the Cifas, and the information services of the Police and the Civil Guard," who, in her opinion, carry out their work "under very difficult conditions" at all times.

The Cifas indicated that the coincidence with Morocco’s Throne Day festival, the country’s largest patriotic celebration, could increase the likelihood of a mass assault. The Cifas alert was issued three days before the incident, coinciding with the celebration of Morocco’s Throne Day festival.

Several analysts in Spain’s Information Services conveyed their concerns to their superiors about Moroccan swimmers who, during the preceding days, were successfully crossing the border into Spain. These experts also did not receive information from their Moroccan counterparts, a circumstance now seen as notable due to the large-scale organisation of thousands of people entering the North African autonomous city.

This Saturday, Vivas confirmed that not only did they contact the Executive, but also "all relevant ministries" to request the adoption of "a resolute, decisive, and coordinated action to address this situation of true emergency."

The next step will be to determine what actions will be taken to improve the management of migration crises in Ceuta and how different intelligence services will better coordinate in future similar situations.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.