Spanish Court Seeks Answers From Military Over Moroccan Ships Near Ceuta
Spain’s courts are seeking precise information about the movements of Moroccan military vessels near Ceuta. In an order dated October 21, the court asked the military for the dates of the passages, its responses and any available recordings. The reply could open a new line of judicial inquiry.
Which Moroccan military vessels entered waters claimed by Spain near Ceuta between July 29 and August 10? Judge María Tardón is awaiting an official response from Spain’s Ministry of Defense, through the chief of the defense staff, EFE reports.
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She wants to know the dates and times, identify the vessels involved and find out whether their movements prompted any interventions or contacts with the Spanish Navy. She is also requesting any available recordings of the passages.
The order goes further: the defense staff must also report any passage by a Moroccan vessel recorded after August 10, along with the precise circumstances of those movements.
Military documents before widening the investigation
The move follows reports of face-offs between Moroccan and Spanish vessels off Ceuta. Several Spanish vessels were deployed in early August. Pedro Sánchez and ministers publicly acknowledged the presence of Moroccan vessels in those waters, prompting the judge to seek official verification.
María Tardón is investigating the mass arrivals of migrants in Ceuta in late July. The Iustitia Europa party had sought military, diplomatic and intelligence files to examine whether there was a possible link to the naval movements.
The judge rejected this broad request. Some documents could be covered by state secrecy and would require declassification. She has opted for a targeted check.
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The order notes that, at this stage, there is no objective evidence establishing that Moroccan vessels took part in organizing the migrant crossings. The judge is awaiting documented facts before considering further inquiries, Libertad Digital reports.
The next step now depends on the Defense Ministry’s response, which will allow María Tardón to decide whether there is sufficient grounds to pursue a new line of judicial inquiry.
