The Attorney General’s Office has raised the number of sexual offences recorded in Ceuta since the start of the recent migration crisis to 21. According to information available to the editorial team on 31 August, these are complaints filed since the mass border crossing on 30 and 31 July 2026 . The updated tally marks a significant rise from the 16 cases recorded by 27 August.
As for the victims, seven are said to be minors aged between 14 and 17. On the current state of the investigation, five offences are classified as rape involving penetration. The tally also includes a complaint from a male victim from the LGBTIQcommunity. Investigators have so far identified five alleged perpetrators: three of Moroccan nationality, one Spanish and one Belgian. Other suspects have not yet been conclusively identified.
The figures are based on ongoing investigations and may change as further complaints are filed and individual allegations are examined. According to justice officials, this is why case numbers have fluctuated in recent days. The trend is consistent with reports from El País, Cadena SER and EFE, which document the increase in the total since the end of August.
The State Prosecutor General Teresa Peramato had initially confirmed 16 complaints involving 17 victims during her visit to Ceuta on 27 August. She also announced a temporary increase in staffing at the Ceuta Prosecutor’s Office to cope with the heavier workload and better address the particular protection needs of minors. Definitive figures that can be substantiated in court will only be available after investigations and any court proceedings have concluded.
The current reassessment follows the continued receipt of complaints since the border influx of 30 and 31 July 2026, when numerous people crossed the border barriers from Morocco . Since then, more offences against sexual freedom have been reported in Ceuta. The State Prosecutor General’s Office stresses that every complaint is being investigated as a priority, alongside coordination with local police and courts.
The situation remains fluid, but the findings so far paint a picture of considerable pressure on victim support services, the justice system and security agencies in the Spanish enclave. They also underline that both suspected cases and identified suspects involve people of different nationalities, and that every case is being investigated individually.
Editor: Phillipe Schmidt-Araguin (Article created with AI assistance).