Security reinforcement on the Ceuta border in the face of calls for migratory assaults

The Civil Guard has received the order to "reinforce the surveillance device on the border of Ceuta" and the maritime service has instructions to "intensify patrolling in all places under Spanish sovereignty in North Africa: the Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera, the Alhucemas Islands, the Chafarinas Islands and the islet of Perejil." This is confirmed to this newspaper by sources from the armed forces, who explain that the reason is new calls detected on social networks in which calls are made to provoke migratory assaults on the border in the coming days, specifically this Sunday or next September 23, coinciding with the legislative elections in Morocco, among other dates.

National Police sources also confirm that they have received "instructions to remain on alert" in anticipation of possible entry attempts by irregular immigrants in the coming days. "We are awaiting these calls on social networks because they are public and we have been asked to reinforce the border, but they are only verbal instructions that are being given without new means arriving to materialize that reinforcement," they indicate.

The calls on networks have also put the Rabat authorities on alert, who have been strengthening security on the other side of the border for days. Spanish police sources confirm that "there is more presence of the Royal Gendarmerie than usual in Castillejos", the Moroccan city closest to Ceuta, and Moroccan media are reporting a significant deployment of security personnel.

"Moroccan authorities have raised the level of security surveillance and reinforced measures in several northern regions, especially in the city of Fnideq (Moroccan name for Castillejos) and the border areas with the occupied enclave (sic) of Ceuta, to prevent any attempt at mass migration, whether by land or sea," Hespress reported.

Citing official sources "who prefer to remain anonymous", this medium explains that "the reinforcements include the establishment of checkpoints on several roads leading to Tetuán and Castillejos to monitor any suspicious movement of people who wish to migrate irregularly to Ceuta." And he emphasizes that "the authorities are imposing strict controls on the main roads and intensifying security patrols near the points and routes that lead to the border crossing," with the aim of preventing concentrations of people.

Hespress also echoes the calls detected on social networks encouraging a new assault on the Spanish border. "Anonymous accounts and pages are spreading rumors and inaccurate information about the possibility of making a massive crossing to Ceuta during this month of September" and emphasizes that they are spread mainly among "young people and minors." In this sense, he points out that Rabat is already investigating the promoters of these calls "with the aim of discovering their possible links with irregular migration and human trafficking networks."