Morocco arrests 111 migrants headed for Spain's Ceuta in security crackdown
Moroccan police arrested at least 111 people on Saturday as they tried to enter Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta , amid tightened security on both sides of the border after social media posts called for another mass migrant crossing. The attempted crossing came two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, sparking tensions within the European Union and fuelling…
Moroccan authorities arrested 111 individuals on August 15, 2026, in an effort to prevent migrants from entering Spain's Ceuta enclave. The security crackdown was prompted by social media posts encouraging a mass migrant crossing. This occurred two weeks after over 72,000 migrants had surged into Ceuta, causing tensions within the European Union and fuelling far-right anti-immigration rhetoric worldwide.
The arrested individuals included 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan citizens. Moroccan police used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants near the border, and Spanish soldiers were present in Ceuta to maintain order. Spanish authorities have since installed a maritime barrier and deployed more than 500 additional police officers, raising the total in Ceuta to over 1,600.
The Interior Minister stated that reinforcements would remain until normalcy is restored. About 5,000 migrants still remain in Ceuta. Morocco has been monitoring social media posts urging a mass crossing and warned it would prosecute organizers and participants.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
