Spanish security forces analyze social media calls for new Ceuta entry

Spanish security forces are closely monitoring and analyzing messages circulating on Moroccan social media platforms that call for a new mass entry into Ceuta, the Spanish city located in North Africa. The proposed date for this action is August 15.

This development follows a recent incident where tens of thousands of people arrived at the border between Morocco and Ceuta, a situation that resulted in over a hundred deaths. In the wake of this event, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have seen a resurgence of messages using slogans such as "15/08" or "al-hajma," which translates to "the offensive" or "the charge." Messages originating from the border town of Fnideq (Castillejos) are calling for people to gather, often accompanied by imagery of the Spanish flag, hourglasses, waves, or swimmers. Audiovisual content depicting thousands of migrants crossing border checkpoints has also amplified these calls.

Police sources indicated to EFE that Spanish security forces have been tracking this phenomenon for days and are studying the messages with extreme caution. They are not ruling out the possibility that the origin of these messages lies outside of Spain and Morocco, and that the number of followers or likes may be manipulated. Despite these suspicions, the police deployment in Ceuta will remain in place in the coming days. Authorities are leaning towards this being another episode of disinformation rather than a realistic possibility of a new attempted mass entry.

Miguel Ángel Pérez, the Government delegate in Ceuta, confirmed that the Executive is closely following the social media messages and is preparing for this possibility. Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, urged social media users not to be deceived by false information, emphasizing that irregular entry into Ceuta or Melilla does not grant the right to remain in Spain or reach the European continent. The European Commission is also closely monitoring social media, noting that channels linked to Russia have amplified the migratory crisis since July 30.

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