Hundreds of migrants attempted to storm the Spanish territory of Ceuta on August 15, a public holiday in Spain, before being intercepted by riot police. The coordinated attempt saw large crowds of men surge towards the border crossing, located at the northern tip of the African continent. This incident follows a previous large-scale crossing on July 30, which resulted in an influx of over 72,000 migrants and an estimated 145 deaths.
Moroccan media reported that at least 300 people were arrested during the latest attempt, with individuals identified as both Moroccan and from sub-Saharan Africa. Spanish news agency EFE reported that police deployed tear gas to disperse groups gathered on hills approximately 3 kilometers from the border. Following the events, hundreds of officers were observed returning from the hills outside Fnideq.
In the weeks prior to the August 15 attempt, social media messages circulated calling for a new mass crossing into Ceuta. One message posted on an online forum stated, "The Ceuta border will be open on the 15th [of August], a public holiday in Spain." Similar calls also urged migrants to cross into Melilla, another Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast. Moroccan authorities had stated they were monitoring these social media posts, warning of prosecution for organizers and participants.
Ceuta and Melilla represent the European Union's only land borders with Africa. Following the July 30 influx, Spain significantly increased security measures in Ceuta. This included the installation of a maritime barrier and the deployment of over 500 additional police officers, bringing the total force in the enclave to more than 1,600. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that reinforcements would remain as long as necessary to restore normality and prevent similar events.
Grande-Marlaska also indicated that approximately 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta. He reiterated that migrants entering irregularly would not be permitted to stay, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, with exceptions for cases of extreme vulnerability. Those without a right to remain would be returned to Morocco.
Authorities implemented reinforced security near the border, including police vans equipped with wire shields and road checkpoints. Local media reported similar measures near Melilla. Moroccan authorities also worked to prevent migrants from traveling to northern Morocco by train and bus in cities like Casablanca, Fez, and Kenitra. However, some migrants reportedly bypassed security by taking mountain routes towards Fnideq.
Some migrants who successfully crossed into Ceuta in late July described the experience and offered warnings to others. Driss Sadik, a 22-year-old from Fez, advised against attempting to cross, stating, "Don't cross now, my brothers. You're only going to suffer." Adil Jamil, 17, echoed this sentiment, adding, "Those who enter aren't going to benefit from anything. There will just be more and more of us, and they won't find a solution for all."
The aftermath of the July 30 crossing has also been accompanied by allegations of sexual assault against several young migrant girls under the age of 14, who reportedly sought treatment at the University Hospital of Ceuta. Judicial sources indicated that some assaults were prevented by local residents, while other residents were reportedly among the accused.