The National Intelligence Center (CNI) informed the Government Delegation in Ceuta, through the WhatsApp messaging application, of the existence of a "call" on social networks for an "assault by fence and sea" on the autonomous city on July 29, just 24 hours before the massive entry of more than 70,000 people from Morocco.
According to the documents declassified by the Executive regarding the crisis in Ceuta, made public this Wednesday, an agent of the CNI stationed in the city sent a message at 1:52 PM to a member of the Cabinet of the Government Delegation warning: "On social networks, there is a call for an assault by fence and sea tomorrow at 8:00 PM taking advantage of the Throne Festival and that their Forces and Security Corps will be tied up."
In that exchange, the agent details that the social media groups promoting the massive entry into Ceuta gather "with a total of 180,000" followers. "To give you an idea of the scope of the dissemination," he specifies. "Their rilas," replies the person from the Delegation. Hours later, at 9:34 PM, both have an eleven-minute phone conversation.
The Executive has maintained that "no prior report" allowed anticipating the dimension of what happened in Ceuta on July 30. However, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, has stated that the CNI and military intelligence did provide data in the days prior. The Government Delegation in Ceuta issued a statement denying the Defense Minister: "This Government Delegation did not receive, at any time, any report warning of what was going to happen on July 30," she assured.
Message exchange since the 27th
The declassified transcript reflects that the contact between the CNI in Ceuta and the Cabinet of the Government Delegation began on the 27th. At 11:20 AM, the Government Delegation informs the CNI of the holding of an "urgent" meeting with the Ceuta Executive, the National Police, and the Civil Guard "for the swimmer issue" and indicates that "whenever you want, I will inform you."
On that same day, after the meeting, the Government Delegation and the Autonomous City issued a joint statement indicating that more than a thousand people had accessed Ceuta by swimming during the last week and that the reception centers were overwhelmed.
The CNI agent asks afterwards if the meeting has already taken place and the Delegation responds that "they have been there since 09:30 hours." "Well, when you have a moment we will talk," adds the intelligence service member. No further communication is recorded that day.
On Tuesday the 28th, at 10:00 hours, the CNI agent resumes contact: "Good morning, how was yesterday's meeting?". He also receives no response. At 17:07 hours, he sends another message with the poster of the call for the concentration 'Ceuta raises its voice', scheduled for August 2, "for the purposes of its possible consequences on public order." There is no response to that last notice of the 28th.
Parallel notice to the Civil Guard
On July 29, in addition to the message to the Delegation's Cabinet, the CNI contacted the Central Special Unit number 3 (UCE-3) of the Civil Guard at 13:53 hours, one minute after the notice to the Delegation. First, a call is recorded without answer and then a message: "I am calling you about the situation in Ceuta."
In that text, the agent details: "We have information of an attempt to swim in and jump the fence for tomorrow, the day of the Throne Festival, we have several groups on Facebook and WhatsApp encouraging these entries."
After a new missed call, the UCE-3 member responds apologizing and explaining that "this whole issue has caught him outside" and "he doesn't have it easy to fix." He adds: "These days are xxxx who has been away for a few months and also xxxx," although he clarifies that "he can also be called." Finally, both talk on the phone at 14:41 hours for seven minutes and 38 seconds.