MOROCCO has deployed a wall of steel made up of hundreds of troops along its border with Spain amid fears of another migrant surge into Ceuta.
Concerning messages are reportedly circulating across Moroccan social media groups calling for a new invasion on Ceuta’s border on Saturday after tens of thousands broke into the enclave last month.
Spanish Soldiers patrol near the Spanish-Moroccan border in Ceuta, Spain Credit: Reuters
Spanish soldiers escort a group of migrants back to the border after mass crossings Credit: Reuters
An estimated 72,000 migrants stormed across the border at the end of July leaving almost 100 dead in the mass border rush.
Fears of a similar dash into the Spanish enclave at the tip of North Africa are on the rise again as dramatic footage shows hundreds of police officers in riot gear standing guard.
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Water cannons, ambulances, equipment for deploying tear gas and stun grenades can all also be seen at the border, local media reports.
Images online have also shown the installation of barbed wire on the Moroccan side of the fences.
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Migrants gather around a torched vehicle while waiting for a chance to cross to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta Credit: Reuters
Chaos broke after tens of thousands of migrants stormed the border on July 30 Credit: Reuters
The Moroccan Interior Ministry said all necessary measures have been taken to counter any new illegal crossing attempt.
The beefed up security comes after messages posted to online forums claimed Spain’s border would be opened at the weekend.
A message posted to an online forum read: “The Ceuta border will be open on the 15th [of August], a public holiday in Spain.”
Would-be migrants are now also being urged to cross into Melilla, another Spanish autonomous city on the northern coast of Africa.
Ceuta and Melilla form the European Union’s only land borders with Africa.
Spain has also bolstered its security, deploying 500 additional Civil Guard officers to its 1,100-strong force.
The Civil Guard said in a post on social media: “Neither the border with Spain is open; nor will it be.
“There are new containment barriers. If you cross them, you will be returned. Don’t let yourself be deceived.”
Shocking footage the aftermath of the chaos at Playa del Trampolín, a popular beach in Ceuta, where many migrants are camped Credit: Jam Press/Laura Garc�a
Countless huts, tents and shelters have been erected and huge amounts of litter strewn on the beach Credit: Jam Press/Laura Garc�a
Some 72,000 migrants swam or climbed over the breakwater to reach the Spanish city on July 30, fuelled by false rumours online about an open crossing.
Horrors broke out with one man breaking into a woman’s flat and creeping into her bed wearing just his underwear.
The intruder was arrested and handed a 16-month prison sentence, which was substituted for deportation and a five-year ban on entering Spain.
Amid the chaos, many were astonished by the attitudes of some of the Moroccan border guards who were said to have urged migrants onwards.
Migrant Mohammed Ahmidho, 47, said the police had told them to “come to Spain.”
At least 80 people died in the attempt, according to official tallies although human rights groups have reported higher figures.
Nearly all have since returned to Morocco, with Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska declaring “the situation has been almost entirely reversed” on August 1.
Shocking footage filmed on Wednesday shows the aftermath of the chaos at Playa del Trampolín, a popular beach in Ceuta.
Countless huts, tents and shelters cover the 0.57-mile stretch, with scores of people milling around and litter strewn across the shore.
A senior Moroccan diplomat previously said more than 20,000 Moroccan security personnel are deployed along the border with Ceuta each day, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.
The ministry said Moroccan authorities had arrested a group of people suspected of carrying out incitement activities.
Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles called any aggression against Ceuta or Melilla an aggression against Spain as a whole.
“This must be absolutely clear: what happened cannot happen again”, she said.
