Moroccan police arrested 111 people as they tried to enter Spain's north African enclave of Ceuta on Saturday, with security tightened on both sides after online calls for another mass crossing.
Key facts
- Moroccan police arrested 111 people attempting to enter Ceuta.
- The attempted crossing took place on Saturday.
- Security was tightened after social media posts called for another mass crossing.
- The incident came two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta.
- At least 96 people died trying to reach European soil.
Moroccan police have arrested 111 people as they attempted to enter Spain’s north African territory of Ceuta, according to the Guardian. The arrests came amid tightened security on both sides of the border, following social media posts that called for another mass crossing into the Spanish enclave.
The attempted crossing took place on Saturday. It followed an earlier event two weeks prior, when more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, according to the Guardian.
That earlier mass crossing caused tensions within the European Union and prompted anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties worldwide, the Guardian reported.
At least 96 people died trying to reach European soil, according to the report. The scale of the earlier surge and the resulting deaths underscore the risks associated with such crossings.
In response to the online calls for a repeat crossing, authorities moved to reinforce border security on both the Moroccan and Spanish sides, leading to Saturday’s arrests.
Why it matters
Ceuta is one of the European Union's only land borders in Africa, making it a flashpoint for migration and EU-Morocco relations. The recent mass crossings and the deaths of migrants have intensified political debate over immigration across Europe.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were arrested attempting to enter Ceuta?
Moroccan police arrested 111 people as they tried to enter Ceuta, according to the Guardian.
What prompted the tightened security?
Security was tightened on both sides of the border after social media posts called for another mass crossing into Ceuta.
How many migrants crossed into Ceuta two weeks earlier?
More than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta two weeks before Saturday's incident, and at least 96 people died trying to reach European soil.