- A video claimed to show migrants in Ceuta is actually footage of rioting in Toulouse, France after Paris Saint-Germain won the UEFA Champions League.
- Officials reported that of the 72,000 migrants who reached Ceuta, some have returned to Morocco.
- AFP matched the storefront for the cosmetics company NYX and other elements to Toulouse’s Rue d'Alsace-Lorraine, confirming the video's location.
- Last week, an estimated 60,000 Moroccans crossed the border into Ceuta, a Spanish city in North Africa, leaving more than 80 people dead; early reporting suggested Moroccan authorities' involvement, but later reports focused on a snowballing effect of misinformation spread through social media.
- Social media posts falsely linked the video to migrants in Ceuta, with one post claiming "thousands of military-aged" flooded into Europe and another referencing "50,000 Moroccan Muslims."
- The video is unrelated to Ceuta and has been flipped horizontally from the original.
- One post featured in an article about violence in Toulouse showed people ransacking terraces, overturning garbage cans, and igniting fires.
- The same moment was shared in posts saying the destruction occurred in Toulouse, France following the Champions League final, in which Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Arsenal in a dramatic penalty shootout victory.
A video falsely depicting a migrant rush in Ceuta has been identified as footage from riots in Toulouse, France, following Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League win. The misinformation has spread rapidly on social media, complicating the narrative surrounding the recent influx of migrants into Ceuta.125
In late July 2026, an estimated 72,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave in North Africa, leading to significant unrest. Officials confirmed that some migrants have since returned to Morocco as the situation evolved. The video in question, which shows chaos and destruction, was originally filmed in May during the riots in Toulouse, not during the recent migration events.
The spread of misinformation has been exacerbated by political rhetoric. Raven Harrison, a Republican congressional candidate, claimed thousands of military-aged men flooded into Europe, causing chaos. This narrative has been challenged by fact-checkers who emphasize the importance of accurate reporting in times of crisis.
The misrepresentation of events has significant implications, as it fuels public fear and complicates the response to migration issues. Experts warn that climate change and economic instability are driving factors behind the migration surge, with many young Moroccans facing dire conditions at home. Schwartzstein noted that misinformation can undermine public trust in institutions, making it harder to address the root causes of migration effectively.
As the situation develops, authorities are urged to combat misinformation and provide clear communication to the public to prevent further panic and misunderstanding.
“The video, flipped horizontally, shows people ransacking terraces and igniting fires on Toulouse's Rue d'Alsace-Lorraine, near a NYX store, per AFP. Social media posts, including one from a Florida congressional candidate, falsely claimed "thousands of military-aged" flooded into Europe, while another cited "50,000 Moroccan Muslims."”
New Security Beat
