Moroccan authorities apprehended a total of 111 individuals on Saturday as they attempted to enter Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta, amidst heightened security measures on both sides of the border following social media calls for another large-scale migrant influx.
This incident occurred following the recent surge of over 72,000 migrants entering Ceuta, which stirred tensions within the European Union and triggered anti-immigrant sentiments among far-right groups globally. Tragically, at least 96 people lost their lives in the pursuit of reaching European shores.
A source from Morocco’s Interior Ministry informed Reuters that the detained individuals included 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan nationals arrested in or near Fnideq, the Moroccan city opposite Ceuta. Spanish news agency EFE reported that Moroccan police deployed tear gas to disperse migrant groups gathered on hills approximately three kilometers from the border. Subsequently, a large number of police officers, some in riot gear and others in plain clothes, were observed returning from the hills outside Fnideq.
Meanwhile, in Ceuta, Spanish soldiers were stationed at supermarkets, while police maintained a significant presence on the enclave’s main streets. The city appeared relatively calm compared to the aftermath of the tragic crossing attempt on July 30.
In response to the situation, Madrid erected a maritime barrier and dispatched over 500 additional police officers from mainland Spain, bringing the total law enforcement presence in Ceuta to more than 1,600. The Interior Ministry emphasized that these reinforcements would remain as long as necessary to restore order and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska reiterated the commitment to deploy sufficient personnel to ensure normalcy and avoid a repetition of the events of July 30. He mentioned that around 5,000 migrants were still present in Ceuta, with hundreds seeking shelter from the scorching heat on El Trampolin urban beach.
Furthermore, Grande-Marlaska emphasized that irregular migrants would not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in exceptional cases involving extreme vulnerability. Those lacking the right to stay would be repatriated to Morocco.
Authorities in Rabat had warned about social media messages inciting a mass crossing on August 15 and vowed to prosecute both organizers and participants. Reinforced security measures, including police presence and road checkpoints, were observed near the border, with similar actions reported near Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla.
Efforts were made to prevent groups from boarding transportation to northern Morocco in various cities, while some sub-Saharan migrants reportedly bypassed security checkpoints by taking mountain routes towards Fnideq. Witness accounts indicated that schools in Fnideq had been repurposed to accommodate security forces near the border.
Amidst this, young individuals who entered Ceuta on July 30 were seen engaging in fishing, swimming, and washing activities at Tarajal beach. Driss Sadik, a 22-year-old who swam for hours to reach Ceuta, advised against such attempts, cautioning others about the hardships they would face.
Similarly, Adil Jamil, aged 17, echoed the sentiment, highlighting the futility of entering Ceuta and urging others not to pursue the same path. Jamil noted that the border crossings were coordinated by individuals who set dates, congregated in Fnideq, and crossed together to leverage strength in numbers.
