CEUTA, Spain – The Spanish government has significantly reinforced security in Ceuta in response to credible threats of a new mass migrant crossing on August 15, deploying nearly 300 riot police and 2,000 soldiers to the autonomous city following last week’s unprecedented breach.
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The decision to escalate the military and police presence came after both the Civil Guard and the CNI intelligence agency confirmed the authenticity of social media calls for another mass entry on the specified date. Since the arrival of 72,000 illegal migrants on July 30, the Ministries of Interior and Defence have progressively increased their deployment, with the military contingent, though operating under limited authority without a state of emergency declared, already serving as a significant deterrent.
In the past week, social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have been flooded with messages bearing slogans such as “15/08” and “al-hajma” (the offensive), with the border town of Fnideq identified as the primary staging point. Groups with up to 400,000 members have been detected spreading these calls, prompting a robust official response.
Authorities, however, have urged caution and calm. Civil Guard sources have indicated that even if an incident does occur on August 15, it is highly unlikely to match the scale of the July 30 event, given the substantial resources now in place, including a recently installed 500-metre floating barrier off the Tarajal breakwater designed to prevent swimmers from reaching the shore.
The latest reinforcements arrived on Friday, with 45 additional riot police officers joining the 225 already deployed, primarily from Andalusia. On July 30, the Commissariat for Immigration and Borders also dispatched a six-member specialist team to assist with identification and documentation, while the Information Commissariat sent a separate team of six agents to support intelligence-gathering efforts.
The Civil Guard’s border surveillance unit in Ceuta has been reinforced with three additional platoons totalling 60 officers, while the city’s Citizen Security unit has received 160 more guards from various Andalusian units. The military presence, comprising 2,000 troops, will remain in Ceuta for as long as the Interior Ministry deems necessary, according to Defence Ministry sources.
Ceuta’s president, Juan José Vivas, has expressed deep concern, stating that the city remains “on edge” and feels “threatened and vulnerable” as residents fear a repeat of the July 30 events. Following a meeting with King Felipe VI on Thursday, Vivas underscored the precariousness of the situation, noting that the border is effectively controlled by a third country that does not recognise Ceuta’s sovereignty.
Authorities are also maintaining vigilance from the start of this week, as some sources have suggested that organisers may attempt to pre-empt the expected August 15 security measures by advancing the crossing attempt without warning. In addition to ground and naval reinforcements, the deployment now includes two teams of divers from the Special Activities Group, the patrol vessel Duque de Ahumada, a helicopter, and a drone unit for surveillance purposes.
Despite the extensive measures, Civil Guard sources have expressed concern that once the crisis subsides, resources may be withdrawn, as has occurred in the past. The force has called for permanent reinforcements, including at least 200 additional officers in Ceuta, the expansion of the Tarajal and Benzú breakwaters, clear operational protocols, and genuine European Union engagement, insisting that Ceuta is the EU’s southern border, not merely Spain’s.
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Vivas, addressing the European Parliament this week, called for a comprehensive approach to “fortify” the border through enhanced personnel and material resources, infrastructure improvements, and measures to address the urgent problem of overcrowded migrant reception centres. He requested unwavering European institutional support, including the involvement of Frontex, Europol, and the EU Asylum Agency, alongside a plan to mitigate the economic impact on the local economy and restore confidence in Ceuta’s future. The coming days will test whether the reinforced defences prove sufficient to prevent a repeat of the July crisis.
