New Attempt to Enter Ceuta, Moroccan Police Detain 111 People

Moroccan authorities arrested 111 people as they attempted to cross into the Spanish territory of Ceuta, after both sides tightened security measures following calls circulating on social media for another mass border crossing.

According to a Moroccan Interior Ministry source cited by Reuters, those detained included 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan nationals. The arrests were made in Fnideq, the Moroccan city near Ceuta, and the surrounding areas.

Moroccan police used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants who had gathered in the hills about 3 kilometers from the border.

Saturday’s attempt came two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged toward Ceuta. The incident sparked tensions within the European Union and fueled anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties around the world. At least 96 people died while attempting to reach the European territory.

In Ceuta, the Spanish military had been deployed to guard supermarkets, while police forces patrolled the main thoroughfares. The situation in the city appeared calmer than in the days following the deadly border-crossing attempt on July 30.

Following that incident, Madrid erected a maritime barrier and sent more than 500 additional officers from mainland Spain. With these reinforcements, the total number of police officers in Ceuta has surpassed 1,600. The Interior Ministry said the additional forces would remain there for as long as deemed necessary.