Morocco stops hundreds heading for Ceuta

Morocco has stopped hundreds of people from trying to illegally cross its border with the tiny Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta.

The intervention happened on Saturday, when a large group of people that Morocco said mainly originated in sub-Saharan Africa left the suburban area around the Moroccan town of Fnideq, which is close to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

Moroccan media outlets have reported that Moroccan security services arrested 294 people, of whom 46 were from Morocco and the rest from sub-Saharan countries.

Spain's EFE news agency quoted Moroccan security sources as saying the police and military units swooped on the large group of migrants in a mountainous area southwest of Ceuta, after they had left Fnideq, with many dispersed and some arrested.

EFE said many migrants remain in the area.

The latest incident happened two weeks after 72,000 migrants, that time mainly from Morocco, swept over and around the border separating Morocco from the Spanish enclave.

At least 141 people are thought to have died during that incursion, largely after being crushed in stampedes or drowned while attempting to swim around border defenses.

Almost all of the migrants who made it to Ceuta two weeks ago have since been returned to Morocco.

But despite the fact that the previous incursion was ultimately unsuccessful, one migrant from Sudan who was involved in the latest attempt to cross the border told the AFP news agency people heard about the previous incursion and still hope it could offer a route into Europe.

"In Ceuta, in Europe, people are better cared for," Chams Edine Yakoub said. "There's no work here. There's no money. There's no housing. There is absolutely nothing, I swear."

Euronews said Morocco, which Spain criticized after the incursion two weeks ago, has set up checkpoints on roads heading toward Fnideq. And it reported the Moroccan Royal Navy has stepped up patrols offshore in the vicinity of the enclave, and that Morocco has deployed surveillance drones.

The previous incursion not only sparked tension between Spain and Morocco but also drove a wedge between Spain and some other European Union countries that criticized Madrid for not doing enough to ensure the EU's external border is secure.

The authorities in Spain and Morocco are battling against widespread calls on social media urging people to attempt the crossing into Ceuta, with the erroneous claim that the Spanish authorities will then ship migrants into the European Union.

The BBC says several videos have been posted on Instagram claiming it is easy to cross the border and encouraging people to attempt it. The broadcaster said many of those behind the social media accounts claim they can get anyone into the enclave — for a price.

earle@mail.chinadailyuk.com