Moroccan police arrest more than 100 people as they attempt to enter Ceuta

Moroccan police were seen monitoring dozens of migrants on the outskirts of the border town of Fnideq on Saturday. Photograph: Mohamed Siali/EPAView image in fullscreenMoroccan police were seen monitoring dozens of migrants on the outskirts of the border town of Fnideq on Saturday. Photograph: Mohamed Siali/EPAMoroccoMoroccan police arrest more than 100 people as they attempt to enter CeutaBorder security tightened after social media posts call for another mass crossing into Spain’s north African territory

Prefer the Guardian on GoogleMoroccan police have arrested 111 people as they tried to enter Spain’s north African territory of Ceuta, amid ⁠tightened security on both sides after social media posts ​called for another mass crossing.

The attempted crossing on Saturday came two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, causing tensions within the EU and prompting anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties worldwide. At least 96 people died trying to ⁠reach European soil.

EFE and Spanish state broadcaster TVE said Morocco’s interior ministry ordered their journalists ‌to leave Fnideq immediately, without providing an explanation.

View image in fullscreenWitnesses said they saw teargas being fired at migrants on hills near the border. Photograph: Jalal Morchidi/EPAIn Ceuta, ‌Spanish soldiers guarded supermarkets while police patrolled the main streets. The city was calmer than in the days after the deadly crossing attempt on 30 July.

Madrid has ‌since installed a maritime barrier and deployed more than 500 additional police officers 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.

“We’ll continue to deploy whatever personnel are necessary to restore normality as soon as possible and prevent events like those of 30 July from happening again,” Spain’s interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said on Thursday.

View image in fullscreenMigrants seen sheltering from the sun on El Trampolin beach in Ceuta. Photograph: Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty ImagesGrande-Marlaska said migrants who entered irregularly would not be allowed to stay in the territory, 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 added.

Earlier this week, Rabat said it was monitoring “the circulation of social media posts and messages of unknown origin” calling for a mass crossing ​on 15 August, warning it would prosecute organisers and participants.

One witness said the schools in Fnideq had been turned into accommodation for security forces deployed near the ⁠border.