Europol to investigate possible Russian involvement in disinformation about Ceuta

Europol and the EU's diplomatic service special unit (EEAS) must investigate who exactly is behind a massive online disinformation campaign regarding the situation in Ceuta, according to Європейська правда.

This was stated by EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Magnus Brunner following an emergency online meeting of EU interior ministers dedicated to the sudden influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave, on Tuesday, August 4.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) and Europol must determine whether Russia took part in a campaign to spread fake news about Ceuta.

"Now the task of the EEAS, as well as Europol, is to look into the details, who these violators were. Was it Russia… or was it human traffickers and smugglers?", – stated Brunner, answering journalists' questions.

He specified that it is reliably known that "human traffickers and smugglers" are behind the disinformation campaign, but regarding Russia's involvement it is too early to draw conclusions without a corresponding investigation.

"About the human traffickers and smugglers we already know. And as for the rest, please wait for a real assessment," – emphasized the EU Commissioner.

As reported by "European Pravda", the day before EU countries discussed the threat of Russian disinformation amid the events in the Spanish Ceuta, which last week faced a massive influx of migrants.

These concerns became publicly known on July 31, when acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha stated that over 1,500 publications regarding Ceuta had been detected in pro-Russian networks.

We remind you, tens of thousands of migrants, some of them swimming, crossed the border from Morocco into the neighboring Spanish city of Ceuta. According to the Spanish government, almost all of them have already returned.

The Spanish Foreign Minister assured that all migrants "to the last one" will be returned from Ceuta.