Spain's PM insists no 'solid proof' Morocco planned Ceuta migrant rush

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stated that there is no solid proof that Morocco planned the migrant rush into Ceuta in July. A Spanish police report highlighted multiple failings by Moroccan security forces, including a response of "total permissiveness" that facilitated the surge, with some officers directing migrants towards the water. According to The Local Spain and New Straits Times, Sánchez insisted there was no concrete evidence of Moroccan orchestration.

More than 70,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco on July 30 and 31, resulting in scores of deaths, mostly by drowning. The incident has strained relations between Spain and Morocco, with Sánchez criticizing Moroccan government comments about Ceuta as "unacceptable". As reported by New Straits Times, he also revealed that the government had urged King Felipe VI to visit Ceuta and Spain's other north African territory of Melilla.

Protests have taken place across Spain, with tens of thousands of people demonstrating in support of Ceuta and criticizing the government's handling of the crisis. According to Spain in English, demonstrations were held in cities including Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia, with estimates of attendance varying from 50,000 to 150,000 in Madrid alone. The protests followed an appeal by the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces to show solidarity with Ceuta, as per Spain in English.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Local Spain, New Straits Times, The Olive Press, Spain in English, Times of India — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.