Over 100 Migrants Detained in Morocco After Attempt to Cross into Ceuta

Moroccan authorities have detained 109 migrants and 2 Moroccan citizens following a mass attempt to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The migrants and citizens were arrested on suspicion of attempting to cross into Ceuta illegally. Moroccan security forces have strengthened security measures in the region and are continuing to investigate those who made calls for mass crossings. The attempt came after the Moroccan Interior Ministry detected calls for mass and illegal crossings into Ceuta and Melilla on social media platforms. Moroccan Interior Ministry spokesman Rashid El Halefi had announced that some social media platforms had been found to be promoting mass and illegal crossings into Ceuta and Melilla on August 15. The Ceuta authorities had announced earlier that over 69,000 people had returned to Morocco following the mass crossing attempts, and that between 3,000 and 5,000 migrants remain in the city. On July 30, over 800 migrants attempting to swim from the coast of the Moroccan city of Fnideq to Ceuta were intercepted.