Hundreds of migrants intercepted near Morocco's border with Ceuta

Scores of would-be migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted on Saturday in northern Morocco near the border with the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, an AFP correspondent saw, two weeks after thousands of migrants rushed into the tiny territory.

Morocco has deployed heavy security around the border city of Fnideq after false social media rumours claimed the border to Spain's Ceuta enclave would open. Hundreds of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, have gathered nearby, raising fears of another mass crossing just weeks after tens of thousands attempted to

Scores of would-be migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were intercepted on Saturday in northern Morocco near the border with the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, an AFP correspondent saw, two weeks after thousands of migrants rushed into the tiny territory.

Moroccan security forces on Saturday broke up hundreds of migrants who had been hiding near Castillejos in a bid to reach Ceuta. The operation comes weeks after the mass crossing attempt that left 141 people dead.

The attempted crossings come two weeks after around 72,000 people rushed into the Spanish North African exclave from Morocco. Calls for another mass crossing had been circulating on social media this week.

Authorities in Morocco have arrested 111 people attempting to cross into Spain's Ceuta, amid tightened security triggered by a deadly mass crossing in July.

Morocco arrests 111 migrants headed for Spain's Ceuta in security crackdown  Dawn

Hundreds of migrants tried to enter the Spanish enclave in North Africa, after social media posts called for another mass crossing.

Hundreds of migrants tried to enter the Spanish enclave in North Africa, after social media posts called for another mass crossing.

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.

At least 111 people have been arrested for trying to get into Ceuta following another call on social media for a mass crossing of migrants.

Social media posts called for another mass migrant crossing.

The attempted crossing comes two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, sparking tensions within the EU and fuelling anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right parties worldwide

Two weeks after more than 72,000 migrants surged into Ceuta, Morocco is stepping up their security checks by monitoring social media and increasing patrol

Spain and Morocco have boosted security around Spain’s African enclave Ceuta following calls for another Moroccan migrant border rush, two weeks after a migrant invasion left at least 96 people dead. Soldiers have been watching commercial and government buildings in Ceuta while police are patrolling main streets, accor

Spain's African enclave Ceuta sees soldiers patrolling streets as Morocco says it arrested those inciting a second mass border crossing on Saturday.

Spain disregarded Ceuta warnings before migrant rush, say border workers' unions  Reuters

Morocco has added barbed wire and more police near Spain’s Ceuta enclave after online calls for another mass crossing.

Authorities in Madrid and Rabat are taking no chances, working together to prevent a repeat of last month’s mass crossings into the exclave.

Spanish authorities are also working to speed up the removal of the 5,000 irregular migrants still in the city following the influx of July 30 and 31

Spanish authorities are also working to speed up the removal of the 5,000 irregular migrants still in the city following the influx of July 30 and 31

The status of the North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territories is not up for discussion, Spanish officials said on Wednesday, after Morocco's justice minister reiterated Rabat's sovereignty claims over the cities.

Morocco won't abandon its claim over Ceuta, says Spain's former envoy  euractiv.com

Spain has ruled out discussing the future of Ceuta and Melilla after Morocco's justice minister reiterated Rabat's sovereignty claims over the two enclaves.