Moroccan police arrested at least 111 people on Saturday as they attempted to cross into Spain\u2019s North African enclave of Ceuta, amid heightened security on both sides of the border following social media calls for another mass migrant crossing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The attempted crossing came two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged towards Ceuta, escalating tensions within the European Union and fuelling anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties worldwide. At least 96 people died while attempting to reach European soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A source in Morocco\u2019s Interior Ministry told Reuters those detained included 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan citizens arrested in or around Fnideq, the Moroccan city opposite Ceuta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Spanish news agency EFE, Moroccan police used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants gathered on hills about 3 km from the border. Reuters later saw hundreds of police officers, some in riot gear and others in plain clothes, returning from the hills outside Fnideq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
EFE and Spanish state broadcaster TVE said Morocco\u2019s Interior Ministry ordered their journalists to leave Fnideq immediately, without explaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Ceuta, Spanish soldiers guarded supermarkets while police heavily patrolled the enclave\u2019s main streets. The city was calmer than in the days after the deadly crossing attempt on July 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Madrid has since installed a maritime barrier and deployed more than 500 additional police from mainland Spain, raising the total in Ceuta to more than 1,600. The Interior Ministry said the reinforcements would remain for as long as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to deploy whatever personnel are necessary to restore normality as soon as possible and prevent events like those of July 30 from happening again,\u201d Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta, the minister said. Reuters saw hundreds sheltering from scorching heat under makeshift bamboo shelters on the urban beach of El Trampolin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Grande-Marlaska said migrants who entered irregularly would not be allowed to stay in the enclave, travel to mainland Spain or obtain legal status, except in rare cases involving extreme vulnerability. Those without a right to remain would be returned to Morocco, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this week, Rabat said it was monitoring \u201cthe circulation of social media posts and messages of unknown origin\u201d calling for a mass crossing on August 15, warning it would prosecute organisers and participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Reuters witness saw reinforced security near the border, including police vans with wire shields and road checkpoints. Local media reported similar measures near Spain\u2019s other North African enclave, Melilla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Authorities prevented several groups from boarding trains and buses to northern Morocco in cities such as Casablanca, Fez and Kenitra. However, witnesses told Reuters that some migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were bypassing security checkpoints by taking mountain routes towards Fnideq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One witness said the schools in Fnideq had been turned into accommodation for security forces deployed near the border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of the young people who entered Ceuta on July 30 were fishing, swimming or washing at Tarajal beach on Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Driss Sadik, a 22-year-old from Fez who said he swam for five hours to reach Ceuta, urged others not to follow his example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe important thing I would advise people trying to cross: Don\u2019t cross now, my brothers. You\u2019re only going to suffer,\u201d he told Reuters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adil Jamil, 17, echoed the warning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose who enter aren\u2019t going to benefit from anything. There will be more and more of us, and they won\u2019t find a solution for all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jamil said that the mass border crossings were \u201cplanned by the people\u201d who pick a date, gather in Fnideq and cross together to find strength in numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I had stayed with my parents, I would\u2019ve died slowly. But if I risk my life, arrive and build my future \u2026 it will be better,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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