Morocco stops new mass attempt to reach Ceuta as almost 300 migrants detained

Moroccan security forces have intercepted nearly 300 migrants attempting to reach the border with Spain's Ceuta enclave. The operation, aimed at preventing a repeat of the mass influx seen two weeks ago, resulted in the detention of 294 people on Saturday near Fnideq, also known as Castillejos. The detainees included 248 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and 46 Moroccan nationals.

The security operation, involving hundreds of Moroccan personnel, utilized riot police, checkpoints, barriers, and water cannons to deter groups from approaching the frontier. Migrants were intercepted around three kilometers from Fnideq before being transported by bus. The security measures were considerably more robust than during the earlier influx on July 30, when tens of thousands of people entered Ceuta in a short period, although the exact number remains disputed.

Since then, both Spain and Morocco have enhanced border security, including the installation of a floating barrier in the sea near the Tarajal breakwater.