Authorities in Morocco have intercepted dozens of migrants trying to cross into the Spanish North African exclave of Ceuta, reports say.
No fewer than 100 people were blocked trying to make their way to the border on the outskirts of the town of Fnideq, according to Moroccan security sources cited by Spanish media and news agency Reuters.
It comes a fortnight after roughly 78,000 migrants arrived in the exclave by sea in a matter of hours – 100 of whom died, according to the city’s mayor, who also said the vast majority of arrivals had returned to Morocco.
Security had been stepped up in the area after the influx and amid suggestions on social media of a second mass crossing attempt this weekend.
The security sources said 111 people had been detained in or around Fnideq – known in Spanish as Castillejos – about 3km (1.8 miles) from the border, the majority of whom were from sub-Saharan Africa.
Moroccan police – including some in riot gear – reportedly used tear gas to disperse groups of migrants gathered on nearby hills.
Earlier this week, Morocco’s government said it was monitoring “the circulation of social media posts and messages of unknown origin” calling for a mass crossing on Saturday, and warned that it would prosecute organisers and participants.
Security at the breakwater entrance was “10 times stronger than the previous day”, Spanish newspaper El País reported.
Morocco had dispatched army officers, navy speedboats and drones to the border on Saturday, it said.
Meanwhile, Madrid deployed more than 1,500 security officers to patrol the area.
Spain has also installed a metal fence and a floating barrier following last month’s influx.
