NGOs Say At Least 141 Died in Ceuta Wave as Official Counts Differ

Overview

• Spanish authorities say nearly 72,000 people entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta between July 30 and July 31 in a sudden mass crossing.
• Moroccan human-rights groups give a provisional death toll of at least 141 while a Spanish forensic commission records about 80 deaths on the Spanish side and Moroccan officials report 11 to 14 deaths on their side.
• The Spanish interior ministry says roughly 70,000 people were returned to Morocco after the influx, placing strain on reception and identification systems in both countries.
• NGOs report 111 arrests linked to the movements and journalists saw Moroccan police use water cannon and tear gas and make at least 30 arrests during attempts to block crossings.
• Fact-checkers have debunked viral misattributed footage of a swimmer said to be headed for Ceuta, and rights groups are calling for a transparent, independent probe into the killings and border operations.