A Spanish judge investigating July’s mass migrant crossings into Ceuta said Wednesday there was no objective evidence linking Moroccan naval vessels to the crisis, even as she ordered Spain’s Defence Ministry to provide details of their movements near the city.
Judge María Tardón, of Spain’s National Court, requested information on whether Moroccan warships entered, remained in or passed through waters claimed by Spain between July 29 and August 10, including any encounters with Spanish naval forces and recordings of their movements.
But the judge said the evidence gathered so far did not establish that the possible presence of Moroccan vessels had contributed to, facilitated or caused the crossings, rejecting broader investigative requests from Iustitia Europa as disproportionate while authorizing more specific inquiries.
The ruling comes as Spanish investigators examine competing accounts of the July 30–31 crisis, including whether Moroccan authorities failed to prevent the crossings and how Spanish institutions responded once the situation overwhelmed border controls.
A report submitted to the court by Spain’s National Intelligence Center (CNI) found that Moroccan authorities had been intercepting swimmers before July 30.
According to details reported Tuesday by El Independiente, the CNI also identified security preparations for King Mohammed VI’s Throne Day celebrations as a factor in the deployment of Moroccan forces elsewhere.
The investigation is also extending to the conduct of Spanish security personnel after the crossings.
Ceuta’s public hospital has referred around 20 medical reports to judicial authorities identifying migrants who say Spanish soldiers assaulted them.
The documents, first reported by El País on Monday, record injuries and the patients’ accounts of how they occurred, giving investigators identifiable witnesses after earlier allegations were largely made anonymously.
Spain’s Defence Ministry has ordered an internal inquiry into the allegations, which include claims of mistreatment and torture documented by Amnesty International.
Meanwhile, Madrid and Ceuta’s regional government are disputing responsibility for the thousands of migrants who remain in the city nearly three months after the crossings.
Ceuta’s Popular Party-led administration said Tuesday it was preparing legal action before Spain’s Supreme Court, arguing that the central government had failed to provide sufficient information about return procedures.
Madrid rejected accusations of inaction, saying more than 12,700 people had returned to Morocco since August 10 and that further procedures were underway under Spanish and European law.
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