Moroccan police have arrested 111 individuals as they attempted to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to a source in Morocco’s interior ministry; the attempted crossing took place on Saturday and followed a surge of more than 72,000 migrants into the region on 30 July. At least 96 people died in that attempt to reach European soil.

Security Measures Intensify on Both Sides

Spanish and Moroccan authorities have increased security in the region following the deadly influx — Moroccan police used teargas to disperse groups of migrants gathered on hills about 1.9 miles (3km) from the border, according to Spanish news agency EFE. Reuters reported that hundreds of police officers, some in riot gear and others in plainclothes, returned from the hills outside Fnideq after the dispersal.

Morocco’s interior ministry ordered journalists from EFE and Spanish state broadcaster TVE to leave Fnideq without providing an explanation. In Ceuta, Spanish soldiers guarded supermarkets while police patrolled the main streets. The city was calmer compared to the days following the 30 July incident.

Spain Deploys Reinforcements and Maritime Barrier

Spain has deployed more than 500 additional police officers to Ceuta, bringing the total number of officers in the territory to over 1,600. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated that the reinforcements would remain as long as necessary. “We’ll continue to deploy whatever personnel are necessary to restore normality as soon as possible and prevent events like those of 30 July from happening again,” he said on Thursday.

About 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, according to Grande-Marlaska. Reuters reported seeing hundreds of migrants sheltering from the scorching heat under makeshift bamboo shelters on the urban beach of El Trampolin.

The interior minister also said that migrants who entered irregularly would not be allowed to stay in the territory, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in rare cases involving extreme vulnerability. Those without a right to remain would be returned to Morocco, he added.

Monitoring Social Media for Future Attempts

Rabat has been monitoring social media posts calling for a mass crossing on 15 August. The Moroccan government warned that it would prosecute organisers and participants of any such attempt. A Reuters witness saw reinforced security near the border, including police vans with wire shields and road checkpoints. Local media reported similar measures near Melilla, another Spanish territory in north Africa.

Authorities prevented several groups from boarding trains and buses to northern Morocco in cities such as Casablanca, Fez, and Kenitra. However, witnesses told Reuters that some migrants from sub-Saharan Africa were bypassing security checkpoints by taking mountain routes towards Fnideq. One witness said the schools in Fnideq had been turned into accommodation for security forces deployed near the border.