Authorities in Ceuta have opened investigations into 20 sexual assaults against migrant women and girls since the mass border crossing began on July 30. The cases include five confirmed rapes, prompting the Fiscalía to focus more closely on crimes against vulnerable groups in the city. Most victims are women and girls, and seven cases involve minors aged 14 to 17. One assault was also reported against a man from the LGBTI community.
Five men are under investigation in connection with the attacks: three Moroccan nationals, one Belgian and one Spanish citizen. The identities of other alleged perpetrators remain unknown. The surge coincides with the arrival of approximately 80,000 people who crossed the border irregularly from Morocco into the Spanish enclave, creating a complex humanitarian and security situation.
During a recent visit to Ceuta, State Attorney General Teresa Peramato acknowledged a marked increase in certain types of crime, particularly sexual assaults. She was accompanied by Andalucía chief prosecutor Ana Tárrago and national coordinator for minors Teresa Gisbert. As of August 27, the prosecution had recorded 16 cases involving 17 victims; the total has since risen to 20. Peramato stressed the particular vulnerability of underage migrant girls amid the ongoing migration crisis.
The prosecution’s work is coordinated with the local Fiscalía de Área, and Ceuta’s team is set to gain three additional prosecutors to manage the growing caseload. Peramato noted, but, that the prosecution’s mandate is primarily limited to protecting minors and overseeing institutional measures affecting them. The judicial response has already led to the imprisonment of two Moroccan men and the expulsion of a third after court hearings where victims and witnesses testified.
This wave of sexual violence comes as Ceuta continues to grapple with the broader consequences of the border crisis. Spanish authorities have faced impressive challenges in managing the influx, amid conflicting data and ongoing disputes over the handling of migrants and minors, as described in recent analysis by russpain.com. The investigations point to the heightened risks migrant women and girls face in such unstable conditions.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration from Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa. The recent rise in sexual violence cases has intensified scrutiny of local protection systems and authorities’ capacity to respond to humanitarian and security concerns. Reinforcing the prosecution team is seen as a necessary step in addressing the immediate crisis, while the underlying vulnerabilities of migrant populations remain a pressing issue for the city and Spain as a whole.
