Spanish security services have reportedly identified several suspected jihadists among the migrants who entered the Spanish exclave of Ceuta during last week’s mass border crossing.
The reports, which cite sources familiar with the investigation, claim that officers from the National Police’s General Information Commissariat (CGI) and the Civil Guard’s Intelligence Headquarters (JIGC) reviewed surveillance footage of the mass arrivals and identified at least a dozen individuals who had previously been arrested, convicted and deported to Morocco for offences linked to jihadist terrorism.
The alleged discovery comes as authorities face the prospect of another large-scale attempt to enter Ceuta. Following the mass crossing overnight of July 30th, when thousands of migrants entered the Spanish enclave from Morocco, activity across social media suggests organizers are already preparing a new crossing for August 15th, with some participants even urging that it take place earlier to avoid larger crowds and an expected increase in security.
According to an investigation by Maldita.es, dozens of Facebook groups, WhatsApp chats, Instagram accounts and Telegram channels are being used to coordinate the next attempt. Facebook posts reportedly encourage participation, Instagram accounts promote the date with images and hashtags, while WhatsApp groups function as operational hubs where participants exchange phone numbers, coordinate routes, discuss police movements and advise one another on what supplies to bring.
The reports come after terrorism experts warned that the nature of the jihadist threat facing Spain has changed significantly. According to experts interviewed last week, the threat has entered a “fourth phase,” marked by increasingly decentralized radicalization driven through social media, encrypted messaging applications, memes and short-form online propaganda rather than traditional hierarchical terrorist organizations.
The experts also stressed that Spain’s close counter-terrorism cooperation with Morocco, particularly intelligence sharing and the monitoring of radicalized individuals, plays a crucial role when authorities are faced with screening large numbers of migrants arriving over a short period.
Videos circulating on X show volunteers of the Red Cross working in Ceuta feeding and supplying the illegal migrants who recently breached the borders. Despite Madrid stating that all immigrants are being returned to Morocco, footage shows hundreds if not thousands with seemingly no intention of going back being taken care of, with border guards idly watching. The videos sparked massive backlash online, with users highlighting the large amount of funds and resources being spent on care for the illegal migrants who should have been deported immediately after breaching the border.
