Moroccan security forces arrested numerous individuals on Saturday as they attempted to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Authorities deployed heavy security around the border city of Fnideq and broke up groups of migrants hiding near Castillejos to prevent a mass crossing.
The attempts were triggered by social media posts and false rumors claiming the border would open for Spain's Assumption holiday. In response, Moroccan and Spanish authorities tightened security, and Morocco announced that those spreading the false claims could face legal action.
Detentions have included 111 people in some reports, while other accounts state that hundreds were arrested by land and sea, including nearly 300 migrants and 61 alleged facilitators. Morocco has since stepped up security checks by increasing patrols and monitoring social media.
These events follow a crisis two weeks prior when more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta. That previous influx left between 96 and 141 people dead and has sparked tensions within the EU, fueling anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties worldwide.