Moroccan police on Saturday detained dozens of individuals attempting to cross into the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta, just two weeks after a massive influx of around 72,000 migrants overwhelmed the border, straining relations between Spain and other EU member states.

Security sources reported that over 100 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted in and around the Moroccan city of Fnideq, which lies across the border from Ceuta. Morocco's Le360 news outlet put the number of detentions at 294.

The crackdown comes amid calls circulating on social media for another mass crossing attempt on August 15. Earlier this week, Rabat announced it was monitoring these posts and warned that both organizers and participants would face prosecution. Witnesses described a heavy Moroccan security presence around Ceuta and Melilla, with checkpoints, patrol boats, and water cannons deployed.

In a controversial move, a Moroccan Interior Ministry official reportedly ordered journalists from Spain's EFE news agency and public broadcaster RTVE to leave Fnideq immediately without explanation, claiming he was "following instructions." This sparked outrage from media executives, with EFE president Miguel Angel Oliver urging Moroccan authorities to respect press freedom, and RTVE president Jose Pablo Lopez calling the expulsion "a grave obstacle to press freedom and the right to information."

The situation remains tense as Spain has reinforced security in Ceuta, installing a maritime barrier and deploying over 500 additional police officers. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that personnel would remain as long as necessary to prevent a repeat of the July 30 events, which resulted in around 100 deaths during the border surge.

Source: www.dw.com