Briefing
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said explicitly on the programme Hoy por Hoy of the Cadena SER on 31 August 2026 that, according to the information available to him, no information from the security forces, the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI) or partner services pointed to Moroccan involvement in the mass border crossings in Ceuta on 30 and 31 July. Sánchez stressed that there had been situation reports, but none that had anticipated the scale and severity of what followed.
The prime minister cited the spread of disinformation as the immediate trigger for the mobilisation of people: a Supreme Court ruling had been misrepresented on social media; this misinformation spread rapidly and was amplified by criminal smuggling networks. Sánchez also spoke of influence operations, which he linked to actors from Russia and Israel and a cross-border far-right scene, without presenting specific evidence in the interview. He referred to ongoing investigations and the work of the relevant authorities to establish exactly what had happened.
Sánchez highlighted the importance of cooperation with Morocco and warned against making hasty accusations against the neighbouring country for political gain. At the same time, he acknowledged that the complexity of the border made 100 per cent certainty difficult and that the government would learn lessons from the events, including how to improve early detection, information-sharing and the fight against digital disinformation.
The opposition continues to demand detailed reports clarifying the information available and who was responsible. Parliamentary oversight bodies and, where appropriate, the judiciary will decide on further steps, Sánchez said. The government announced that it would review and, where necessary, adjust administrative action, border protection and its strategy for communicating against organised crime and disinformation.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).