Moroccan police arrest 111 migrants attempting to enter Ceuta
The arrests occurred two weeks after thousands of people attempted to enter Spain from Morocco
Moroccan police have arrested at least 111 people after they attempted to cross into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, according to reports.
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The arrests occurred two weeks after thousands of people attempted to enter Spain from Morocco, with more than 72,000 people reportedly detained and at least 96 dying during attempts to make the crossing.
This new incident has heightened tensions within the European Union.
EFE and Spanish state broadcaster TVE reported that Morocco’s Interior Ministry ordered their journalists to leave Fnideq immediately, without giving an explanation.
Meanwhile in Ceuta, Spanish soldiers have been guarding supermarkets as police stepped up patrols across the enclave’s main streets.
The situation was reportedly calmer than in the days following the deadly crossing attempt on July 30.
Read more: Migrant dies trying to paraglide from Morocco to Ceuta - as fears grow of another surge
Madrid introduced a maritime barrier following the event and sent more than 500 additional police officers from mainland Spain to Ceuta.
The move has brought the total number of police in the enclave to more than 1,600, with the Interior Ministry saying the reinforcements will remain for as long as required.
Security sources said 111 people had been arrested in and around Fnideq, known as Castillejos in Spanish, around 3km (1.8 miles) from the border.
However, misunderstandings about the rules surrounding entry to the territory, including claims that anyone reaching Ceuta by land or sea could not be returned, have encouraged more people to attempt the crossing.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Thursday: "We'll 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,"
Earlier this week, Morocco’s capital Rabat said it was monitoring "the circulation of social media posts and messages of unknown origin" calling for a mass crossing on August 15.
It warned that those organising or taking part in the attempted crossing could face prosecution.
A Reuters witness reported seeing heightened security around the border, including police vans fitted with wire shields and road checkpoints. Another witness said schools in Fnideq had been turned into accommodation for security forces deployed close to the border.
According to Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska on Thursday, around 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta.