Moroccan authorities have intercepted more than 100 migrants attempting to reach the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta, according to security sources cited by Spanish media and Reuters.
The attempted crossing took place near the border on the outskirts of Fnideq, about 3km from Ceuta. Authorities said 111 people were detained in or around the town, with most believed to be from sub-Saharan Africa.
Security was strengthened in the area after social media posts of unknown origin called for another mass crossing attempt over the weekend.
Moroccan police, including officers in riot gear, reportedly used tear gas to disperse groups gathered on nearby hills. The government had earlier warned that organisers and participants in a mass crossing attempt could face prosecution.
Spain also deployed more than 1,500 security officers to patrol the area, while Morocco sent army officers, navy speedboats and drones to the border, according to reports.
The increased security follows a large influx a fortnight earlier, when roughly 78,000 migrants reportedly reached Ceuta by sea within hours. The city’s mayor said 100 people died during that episode and that most arrivals had subsequently returned to Morocco.
The earlier influx triggered tensions among European countries within the Schengen area. Italy introduced border checks on arrivals from Spain, with support from Finland and Denmark, while Spain argued that Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area and that migrants there could not travel onward to other European countries.
On Saturday, Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Italy had acted because of the risk of another wave of arrivals in Ceuta.
