Spain and Morocco beefed up security at the border with the Spanish exclave of Ceuta following calls on social media for large numbers of migrants to attempt to enter the North African territory on Saturday, but the border remained largely calm throughout the day.
A dpa reporter said there was absolute silence at the border crossing in Ceuta during the morning. “In the city centre, it’s almost like a perfect world; you don’t notice any of this at all. You only occasionally see police and military personnel on patrol,” he said. Only on the outskirts could groups of young migrants be seen, he said.
State broadcaster RTVE and other Spanish media outlets from the exclave also described the situation as largely calm.
Authorities in both countries want to prevent a repeat of the events at the end of July, when, according to various estimates, up to 80,000 migrants reached Ceuta.
Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska recently reiterated that this was a one-time event that will not be repeated.
A few days ago, the Moroccan Interior Ministry announced the arrest of a group of people suspected of inciting further attempts to illegally enter the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
Calls for mass crossings on August 15 were circulating on social media. However, the ministry stated that all necessary measures had been taken to prevent illegal movements.
Razor wire, water cannons and patrol boats
Eyewitnesses said Moroccan security forces were maintaining a massive presence around Ceuta and Melilla to prevent any border crossings before they could take place.
Hundreds of migrants, including many from sub-Saharan African countries, were stopped near the border town of Fnideq – some 20 kilometres from Ceuta – and prevented from attempting to cross.
Citing security sources, the Moroccan news portal Le360 reported that 294 people without valid documents had been detained in Fnideq and the surrounding area.
Morocco had significantly tightened its security measures in recent days, erecting additional barriers made of barbed and razor wire, RTVE reported.
Patrol boats were monitoring the coast and water cannons were stationed at the border. Numerous checkpoints were also set up on access roads, RTVE said.
Meanwhile, 880 officers of the Spanish National Police were deployed in Ceuta, 270 more than at the end of July. They were supported by approximately 2,000 soldiers and 700 officers of the Guardia Civil.
Return to normality will take time
On July 30, tens of thousands of migrants reached Ceuta, mostly by swimming, with dozens dying in the attempt.
According to the latest official statement from Madrid, 83 bodies have been recovered from the sea, while NGOs estimate the death toll to be well over 100.
Most of the arrivals returned to Morocco within a few hours or days, according to the Spanish government.
Spanish Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska stated that approximately 5,000 migrants are currently still in Ceuta. The minister acknowledged that it will take some time before a return to complete normality in the exclave is achieved.