Investigation into Morocco's Migration Impact on Ceuta
Judge María Tardón of the Audiencia Nacional has decided to broaden the scope of investigations regarding the massive influx of immigrants from Morocco to Ceuta that occurred on July 30 and 31. The judge has requested additional information from national defense, the Ministry of Interior, the Government Delegation, the Autonomous City, and security forces to reconstruct the knowledge and decisions made by various authorities prior to the crisis. This move aims to clarify what information was available to these entities, when they became aware of it, and the actions they took in response. Furthermore, the judge has scheduled new witness statements to gather more insights.
In an order dated October 16, Judge Tardón pointed out the persistent "areas of uncertainty" that necessitate further inquiries to establish the available information at each institutional level and to reconstruct the sequence of events leading to the crisis. The judge is particularly interested in understanding what warnings were issued before the incidents, which authorities were informed, the decisions taken, and the operational response to events that, according to witness statements, reached an extraordinary scale.
Request for Intelligence Reports and Satellite Imagery
The judge has also emphasized the importance of information managed by the Ministry of Defense, requesting that the Army deliver all intelligence and security reports issued by the Ceuta Command between July 15 and August 7. This includes the original REW 32 report, which was part of the declassified documentation. Additionally, Judge Tardón has demanded intelligence reports generated by the Armed Forces Intelligence Center (CIFAS) concerning Morocco, as well as the extension of satellite imagery of the Ceuta border to cover the same period.
To date, specific figures related to essential aspects of the investigation have not been provided. Therefore, Judge Tardón has called upon the Ministry of Interior, the Civil Guard Command in Ceuta, the Ceuta Superior Police Headquarters, and the Tarifa Coordination Center to supply precise data concerning registered entries, returns, rescues, fatalities, minors attended, deployed forces, and mobilized resources. The magistrate considers it crucial to obtain detailed information on the impact of these events on essential services such as security, social services, education, and healthcare, a concern previously raised by the President of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas Lara.
Moreover, the judge has requested that the Autonomous City of Ceuta and the Government Delegation provide all information regarding meetings held in relation to the events being investigated in the days leading up to the mass entry of thousands of immigrants. Specifically, she is focusing on meetings that took place on July 27, 28, and 30, where the severity of the situation was allegedly communicated, as argued during their statements in the Audiencia Nacional.
In light of these developments, Judge Tardón has mandated a new round of testimonies, which notably includes Alejandro Ramírez, the President's advisor, Nabila Benzina, the Health advisor, and Alberto Gaitán. These individuals were identified by Vivas during his testimony as key members of the Autonomous City government who had direct involvement in the affected areas or played active roles in managing the crisis.
Finally, the judge has ordered the Civil Guard and the National Police to identify an individual nicknamed "Ahmed," a resident of Benzú, who had reportedly provided prior information about unusual movements in Castillejos, concentrations of people, and other observed circumstances in Moroccan territory before the onset of the mass entry.
In the latest report submitted by the CNI to the Audiencia Nacional, it was noted that the intelligence agency had informed both Moroccan and Spanish authorities about the imminent arrival of thousands of individuals in Ceuta. Specifically, urgent alerts were sent to the chief of staff of the government delegate in Ceuta and a unit of the Civil Guard in Madrid (UCE) to escalate the information to senior officials to mitigate the mass entry.
As reported by elconfidencial.com.
