Police arrest 111 migrants in latest Ceuta border surge after calls for mass breach
- Moroccan authorities have arrested at least 111 people around the border city of Fnideq after social media posts called for a mass crossing into Spain‘s North African enclave of Ceuta.
- The latest attempted crossing follows a major border breach on 30 July in which over 72,000 migrants surged into the territory, resulting in at least 96 deaths and heightened political tensions across the European Union.
- In response to the new surge, Moroccan police used tear gas to disperse groups near the border, whilst Spain deployed maritime barriers and over 500 additional security personnel to reinforce the enclave.
- Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska confirmed that migrants who entered irregularly will be deported to Morocco and barred from travelling to mainland Spain or securing legal status, except in severe vulnerability cases.
- Around 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta living in makeshift shelters, with some recent arrivals publicly urging others not to risk the dangerous journey amidst heavy police presence and strict controls.
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