Dozens of sub‑Saharan migrants were intercepted by Moroccan security forces near the town of Fnideq on the outskirts of the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, where authorities detained 111 people.
More than 100 people were blocked while attempting to cross the border according to Moroccan security sources cited by Reuters and Spanish media. The move follows yesterday’s arrival of roughly 78,000 migrants by sea, a day that saw 100 drownings as the city’s mayor announced the tragedy.
Moroccan police, many in riot gear, reportedly used tear gas to disperse clusters of refugees gathered on nearby hills. Earlier this week, Rabat announced it would monitor “the circulation of social media posts and messages from unknown origins” calling for a mass crossing on Saturday, warning it would prosecute organisers and participants.
Spain has deployed more than 1,500 security officers to patrol the area, and the break‑water entrance has been protected by a metal fence and a floating barrier. El País has described the security as “10 times stronger than the previous day.”
The crisis has calmed somewhat since late July, but tensions have surged between EU members who share open borders and critics of the Spanish government. Italy temporarily suspended its Schengen arrangement with Spain, backed by Finland and Denmark, while the Czech Republic demanded a temporary suspension of Spain’s membership—despite Prime Minister Sánchez noting Ceuta is not in the Schengen area.
For more in‑depth coverage of the Ceuta migrant crisis and the EU’s diplomatic fallout, follow BBC News at BBC.com.
