World News

Spanish prosecutors report daily sexual assaults in Ceuta following migrant influx

An estimated 5,000 migrants remain in the North African exclave after 72,000 crossed the border in late July.

Updated Sep 1, 2026 · 14:25 UTC1 reports

The short version

Spanish prosecutors reported 23 sexual assaults in Ceuta, including nine against children, since tens of thousands of migrants crossed from Morocco in late July.
Up to 5,000 migrants remain in the exclave, including an estimated 1,400 to 1,600 children, causing localized unrest and municipal strain.
The Spanish cabinet approved a multi-million euro aid package to fund essential services and support for unaccompanied minors.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez attributed online border-crossing encouragement to far-right and foreign disinformation campaigns, claims denied by Russia and Israel.

Ceuta chief prosecutor Silvia Rojas stated that 23 sexual assaults, nine involving child victims, occurred following the late July border crossings.[BBC News]
An estimated 72,000 migrants crossed into the Spanish territory on July 30 and 31, with up to 5,000 remaining in the city.[BBC News]
Suspected perpetrators identified in assault cases include four Moroccan citizens, three Spanish nationals, and one Belgian national.[BBC News]
Spain's cabinet approved a multi-million euro financial package to manage essential municipal services and provide care for unaccompanied migrant children.[BBC News]
At least 100 individuals died while attempting to swim around the border fence separating Morocco and Ceuta during the surge, according to the city's mayor.[BBC News]

Chief prosecutor Rojas noted that many sexual assault cases likely remain unreported due to victims' fears or irregular legal status.[BBC News]
The precise origins of social media campaigns encouraging the surge remain contested; Prime Minister Sánchez linked the activity to far-right, Russian, and Israeli disinformation networks, which both Russia and Israel denied.[BBC News]
Moroccan authorities denied involvement in orchestrating the mass crossing, while domestic political opponents in Spain allege the migration could not have occurred without Moroccan awareness.[BBC News]