Moroccan authorities have detained more than 100 migrants who were reportedly attempting to reach the border of Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta, amid concerns over another mass crossing.
Moroccan security sources cited by Spanish media and Reuters said 111 people were arrested in and around Fnideq, a town located about 3km from the border and known as Castillejos in Spanish.
Most of those detained were reportedly migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Moroccan police, including officers equipped with riot gear, were said to have used tear gas to disperse groups who had gathered on nearby hills.
The latest operation came about two weeks after a major influx saw around 78,000 migrants arrive in Ceuta by sea within a matter of hours. Ceuta’s mayor said about 100 people died during the incident, while the vast majority of those who arrived had subsequently returned to Morocco.
Security measures around the border were strengthened following the previous influx, particularly after messages circulated on social media suggesting another mass crossing could take place over the weekend.
Earlier this week, Morocco’s government said it was monitoring social media posts and messages from unknown sources calling for a mass attempt to cross the border on Saturday. Authorities warned that organisers and participants could face prosecution.
Moroccan authorities reportedly deployed army personnel, navy speedboats and drones around the border, while security at the breakwater entrance was described by Spanish media as significantly heavier than the previous day.
Spain has also stepped up security, deploying more than 1,500 officers to patrol the area. The country has installed a metal fence and floating barrier following last month’s migrant influx.
The situation has also created tensions among European Union countries, with Italy suspending the 29-member Schengen free-movement arrangement with Spain and introducing border checks on arrivals from the country.
Finland and Denmark backed Italy’s move, while the Czech Republic called for Spain’s Schengen membership to be temporarily suspended.
Spain rejected the criticism, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stressing that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area and that migrants arriving there do not automatically gain access to mainland Spain or other European countries.
Madrid urged Rome to lift its additional border controls but later introduced its own checks after Italy refused, citing concerns over another possible influx on Aug 15.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that Rome had acted because of fears of another wave of arrivals in Ceuta.
He stressed that Italy was not engaged in a dispute with Spain, but was instead monitoring arrivals closely, while arguing that the source of the problem was the situation in Morocco rather than Italy’s border measures.
