Moroccan police arrest over 100 migrants attempting to reach Spanish enclave Ceuta

Moroccan authorities detained over 100 migrants attempting to breach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday, August 15, amidst heightened security measures. Police arrested 111 individuals, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa along with two Moroccan citizens, in or around Fnideq, the Moroccan city adjacent to Ceuta. Security forces reportedly used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants gathered on hills approximately three kilometers from the border.

The arrests followed widespread social media calls for a new mass crossing into the Spanish territory, prompting both Moroccan and Spanish authorities to increase border surveillance. This incident occurred just two weeks after a significant event on July 30, when more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, leading to at least 96 fatalities.

In the wake of the earlier mass crossing, Spain reinforced its border defenses, including installing a maritime barrier and deploying over 500 additional police officers to Ceuta. Moroccan authorities had also issued warnings that they would prosecute individuals involved in organizing or participating in such crossing attempts.