Spanish court takes over probe into mass migrant entry into Ceuta as suspected attack on territorial integrity

Spain’s National Court has taken over the investigation into the mass irregular entry of migrants into Ceuta on July 30 and 31. Investigating judge María Tardón said the case involves indications of crimes that could affect the state’s peace or independence, the rights of foreign citizens, negligent homicide and criminal organisation.

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We are dealing with criminal conduct allegedly committed abroad that seriously attacked Spain’s territorial integrity, which is guaranteed by Article 2 of the Constitution.

Tardón said the conduct was allegedly committed abroad but “seriously attacked Spain’s territorial integrity,” which is protected under Article 2 of the Constitution. In a 26-page ruling, she examined a report from the National Police about the mass entry into the Spanish autonomous city.

The judge said the operation did not appear to be incidental, occasional or spontaneous. Instead, she described it as a process in which the migration objective served only as a formal cover, while the broader aim was to “destabilise national security.” She also said the evidence pointed to clear assistance from Moroccan territory, including the beach at Fnideq and nearby areas in Castillejos.

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It was not incidental, occasional or spontaneous conduct.

The ruling focuses on what Tardón called the questionable conduct of Morocco’s security forces. Drawing on the report from the National Immigration and Borders Centre, she said Moroccan officers showed considerable permissiveness and actively guided people seeking to cross the fence marking the Spanish border.

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A clear and undeniable facilitation of the process from Moroccan territory has also been demonstrated.

The ruling says uniformed Moroccan police directed people toward crossing points and helped organise access to the area leading to Fnideq beach and its waters. Tardón framed those actions as an attempt to attack the Spanish state by violating its territorial integrity. She also referred to comments by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during his visit to Ceuta on July 31, 2026, when he described the events as “an attack, a violation of territorial integrity.”

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The uniformed police themselves can be seen giving directions to people illegally crossing the border, guiding them through points from which they could make the crossing and overcome the obstacles at the access point.