Intelligence service had warned Ceuta authorities ahead of migrant surge

Spain's intelligence service warned local authorities in Ceuta about a possible mass border crossing attempt, according to TVNET, citing foreign sources. The warning was issued one day before an unprecedented number of migrants arrived in the city in late July.

According to the intelligence report, the possible crossing could occur both by land and by sea. This gave local authorities some degree of advance notice, though the actual number of migrants who arrived reportedly exceeded anything previously seen in the city.

Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city located on the North African continent, bordering Morocco. Its geographic position makes it one of the points where migrants from Africa attempt to reach European Union territory, since Ceuta, like the Spanish city of Melilla, is formally part of the EU.

The source report does not provide further details on the exact number of migrants, their countries of origin, or what happened to them after arrival. It also does not specify how the intelligence warning influenced the authorities' actions on the day of the event.