Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has sent a letter to the Director General of Police Francisco Pardo Piqueras, demanding answers on when police became aware of findings indicating the direct involvement of Moroccan agents in organizing the mass border crossing in Ceuta at the end of July, according to El País.
This case was revealed by journalists from the portal El Español. According to their information, the report, prepared by the National Center for Immigration and Borders (CENIF), is based on a detailed analysis of video recordings from border areas. It concludes that Moroccan gendarmes, acting under the command of plainclothes agents, directed a crowd of more than 70,000 people.
The report was submitted to the National Court, which handles, among other things, organized crime and terrorist offenses. The minister’s letter indicates that the Ministry of the Interior was not informed of the police analysis’ findings before they were passed to the judiciary.
Minister’s and Government’s Position
«I need to know since when the police had this information, which is absolutely crucial for me as the Interior Minister, so that — regardless of judicial actions — I can exercise my powers and, consequently, the government can make the appropriate decisions regarding the migration crisis in Ceuta», said Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The findings in the report contradict the Spanish government’s previous stance. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently stated publicly that there was no evidence to suggest Rabat’s involvement in organizing the crisis. At the same time, he praised Moroccan authorities for their «immediate cooperation» in returning migrants.
The migration crisis in Ceuta erupted at the end of July when migrants stormed the Spanish enclave. According to Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, about 70,000 of the 72,000 people who entered Ceuta were later returned to Morocco. At least 77 people died.
Source: Gazeta.pl
