Moroccan authorities detained more than 100 migrants on Saturday who were attempting to cross into the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta. The interceptions occurred on the outskirts of the town of Fnideq, known as Castillejos in Spanish, approximately 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) from the border.
Security forces, some in riot gear, reportedly used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants gathered on nearby hills. The majority of those detained were identified as being from sub-Saharan Africa. Moroccan police were involved in the arrests, with some instances showing officers checking documents.
The heightened security presence followed social media suggestions of a second mass crossing attempt over the weekend. Moroccan authorities had stated earlier in the week that they were monitoring social media posts of unknown origin calling for such a crossing and warned of prosecution for organizers and participants.
This incident comes two weeks after a large influx of approximately 78,000 migrants arrived in Ceuta by sea in a matter of hours. According to the city's mayor, 100 people died during that event. Both Spanish and Moroccan authorities had reinforced security in the area following that surge. Images from the previous influx showed migrants swimming towards Ceuta, with flotation devices visible on the beach.