Moroccan police have arrested more than 100 people in attempts to cross into Ceuta, a Spanish-administered territory on the northern coast of Africa. Video posted online on Saturday showed large crowds, most believed to be from sub-Saharan Africa, heading toward Ceuta.
The incident comes just weeks after more than 70,000 people surged into the autonomous city, leaving at least 96 dead during the attempt to reach it. According to Reuters, hundreds of police officers were deployed to deal with the crowds, resulting in at least 111 arrests, according to a source from Morocco's Interior Ministry. Police are said to have used tear gas to disperse the crowds.
Local media Le360 reported on Saturday afternoon that up to 294 people had been arrested, including 46 Moroccans, with the rest believed to be from sub-Saharan Africa. On Thursday, Moroccan authorities said they were working to prevent potential new crossing attempts, following a disinformation campaign on social media encouraging people to head to the city.
The crowds moved through mountain routes toward Ceuta, passing through Fnideq, a coastal town in northern Morocco. They are believed to have chosen the mountainous route to avoid security checkpoints. Spain's ABC newspaper reported that hundreds of people were moving toward the territory, which Morocco does not recognize as Spanish soil.
Earlier, Jaime de los Santos, a Spanish lawmaker and deputy education secretary of the conservative People's Party (PP), accused Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of failing to address the crisis that began on July 30. Sanchez is currently on holiday at the La Mareta Royal Residence in Lanzarote, a usual retreat for Spanish prime ministers.
“Today is Saturday, August 15, the week of the eclipse has passed. It has been 16 days since Spain was flooded by more than 80,000 Moroccan citizens, and Pedro Sanchez is still hiding in La Mareta without giving any explanation, without ending this crisis, and using his ministers to cover up a shameful action,” De los Santos said in a statement.
About 72,000 people entered Ceuta in late July, and at least 96 died trying to reach the territory. Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said on Thursday that about 5,000 migrants remained in Ceuta.
