Morocco uses tear gas, water cannons on migrants at Spain border

Moroccan authorities deployed riot control tactics, including tear gas and water cannons, to disperse large crowds of migrants attempting to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Thousands of individuals, predominantly young men from various parts of Morocco, converged on the border town of Castillejos, creating a human tide stretching for kilometers and overwhelming local police.

The intervention by security forces occurred after a continuous influx of migrants throughout the day. The operation aimed to halt the attempts to breach the border perimeter. Following the police action, hundreds of migrants began to retreat towards Castillejos, with many planning to spend the night there to try crossing again in the coming hours.

Despite the dispersal, migrants expressed their resolve to continue their attempts to reach Ceuta. "We have been dispersed, but we will not stop trying," one young Moroccan told EFE as he moved away from the border area. The situation highlights the persistent challenges of irregular migration and border control in the region.