Spain hunts for suspected jihadists after Ceuta migration surge

Spanish security authorities are racing to identify suspected jihadists and criminals who may have entered the autonomous city of Ceuta during the recent wave of irregular migration, El Confidencial reports.

According to the report, officers from the Civil Guard and the National Police are reviewing video footage of the mass border crossing and carrying out extensive patrols across the city. Authorities have deployed all available resources in an effort to close what officials view as a serious security gap created by the influx.

The scale of the chaos has made it impossible to determine exactly how many migrants entered Ceuta or subsequently left the city over the past week. However, the report cites the most credible estimates as indicating that roughly 90% of those who crossed into the enclave have since returned to Morocco.

The migration surge occurred in late July, when tens of thousands of people reached Ceuta by swimming across the border or bypassing the breakwater separating the Spanish enclave from Morocco. In response, the Spanish government deployed military personnel to reinforce security and support local authorities.

The humanitarian toll has also been severe. At least 72 people are reported to have died while attempting to reach Ceuta during the crisis. Despite the scale of the influx, officials believe that the vast majority of migrants have now returned to Morocco.

By Vafa Guliyeva