Intelligence teams have tracked a sharp rise in social media posts urging people to breach the border in Ceuta and Melilla. In response, Spain has sent dozens of Guardia Civil officers to Melilla, amid concern about a repeat of the recent Ceuta incident.
Security forces are on alert. Hashtags and group messages calling for the “liberation” of Ceuta and Melilla have spread, with some Moroccan nationalist groups describing the cities as “occupied” territories. Spanish media, citing police sources, report that about 40 officers have been sent to Melilla, not the 60 first reported. Units from the Agrupación de Reserva y Seguridad are rotating shifts to maintain a steady presence. Still, police sources acknowledge that those numbers would not be enough if thousands tried to force their way in. The Spanish government calls the reinforcements a preventive measure and says there is no confirmed evidence of a structured plan for a mass assault.
The threat is real. Earlier this year, intelligence teams saw a clear jump in online campaigns, particularly after the July 30 to 31 Ceuta crossing, which Moroccan ministers openly encouraged. The latest wave of digital calls has focused on September 20 and 23, dates that coincide with Morocco’s elections. Influencers such as Mustapha El Asri have promoted the messages with slogans like “Todos juntos por Ceuta” and hashtags such as 'Ceutafree'. The campaign has appeared on TikTok and Instagram, as well as social media.
Despite the online activity, police say there is no sign of a coordinated plan or a set meeting point for a mass march like the one in summer. The latest scare came from messages about a possible assault on Melilla during the night of September 17 to 18, but nothing happened. These calls still surface at least twice a month, keeping security teams on edge. Sabrina Moh, the Spanish government delegate in Melilla, says the basic goal is to keep residents safe. She reiterates that there is no concrete sign of an organized breach right now.
Spanish intelligence is also monitoring the situation directly. Agents have joined WhatsApp* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ)* (принадлежит Metа, которая признана экстремистской организацией и запрещена в РФ) groups to track developments and watch for signs of escalation. Spanish officers are uneasy, but: they see no sign of extra security on the Moroccan side. One Melilla-based agent put it simply: “If they want to stop it, nobody gets through.”
On September 18, Reuters reported that Spanish police had launched an operation in Ceuta to clear beaches of migrants and transfer some to temporary centers. Authorities estimate that around 12,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, adding pressure on local resources and the need for continued heightened security.
Underlying all this is a sense of vulnerability. The current deployment is a show of force, but many see it as a stopgap. If a mass crossing happens, the officers on hand would likely be overwhelmed. The staffing weakness extends beyond border security. As our earlier breakdown of Spain’s construction sector showed, staffing gaps can leave basic systems exposed.
Spain’s strategy relies on intelligence and digital monitoring to guide rapid deployment. The government recognizes the risks at its borders. But online calls continue, and Moroccan authorities have taken no additional action, leaving the threat in place. The next few days will show whether Spain’s current approach can hold or whether a bigger, longer-term fix is needed to protect Ceuta and Melilla from organized mass entry.
