Spanish Army probes possible role of Moroccan military in Ceuta ambushes
The Spanish army is investigating a sensitive line of inquiry after several attacks on its soldiers in Ceuta. Moroccan military personnel may have helped prepare ambushes, according to Defense sources cited by the Spanish press. Investigators are intrigued by the methods used.
Four soldiers injured, a vehicle surrounded and twelve Moroccans arrested. The August 27 attack in Benzú, in northern Ceuta, continues to raise questions within the Spanish army. That morning, between 30 and 40 people targeted a patrol from the Regulares Group 54, throwing large stones at its vehicle. The soldiers had to abandon it to escape their attackers.
On Bladi.net : Spanish Army Reports Identify 72 Moroccan Personnel in Ceuta; Defense Minister Says She Was Unaware
Since then, the army’s land forces security services have analyzed several similar incidents. According to an investigation published this Saturday by The Objective, some attackers apparently knew the routes and schedules of Spanish patrols. Observers are said to have monitored their movements to choose when to launch the attacks.
Investigators are also focusing on obstacles placed on the tracks, including tree trunks used to block vehicles. Some groups are said to have tried to surround the soldiers and cut off any chance of retreat. Spanish military sources compare these methods to “guerrilla tactics.”
Moroccan military personnel among Ceuta migrants?
These suspicions have taken on a new dimension since the evacuation of the encampment on Trampolín beach. According to information from the daily El Español, police are said to have identified between 12 and 14 members of the Moroccan army there. The men reportedly acknowledged their military status while claiming to have deserted. They were carrying, among other things, equipment from the Moroccan army.
Their presumed presence is prompting Spanish military officials to question how the attacks were organized. Suspicions now center on the possible involvement of people with military training, although their direct participation in the ambushes has not been established.
On Bladi.net : Ceuta Crisis: After Suspicions Against Morocco, Spanish Report Finds No Evidence
The Benzú attack has already led to legal consequences. On August 28, eleven of the twelve Moroccans arrested were sentenced to two years in prison, a sentence replaced by expulsion from Spanish territory for five years. They had admitted taking part in the incident.
Spanish military associations are now calling for more protective equipment and clearer rules of engagement. Several soldiers were attacked again in September, including two who had to be hospitalized in Madrid.
