Spain’s Defense Ministry has canceled leave for military personnel deployed in Ceuta until further notice, citing security concerns ahead of Aug. 15, when calls for a new mass entry attempt into the Spanish enclave have circulated on social media.
The decision, reported Monday by Spanish media, comes about two weeks after a large-scale attempt by migrants to enter Ceuta. Spanish authorities have since stepped up security measures in and around the enclave.
The Spanish military has deployed two frigates off the coast of Ceuta and installed a floating barrier in the waters surrounding the enclave. Military and police forces have also been placed on heightened alert in anticipation of a possible new mass crossing.
The canceled leave days will reportedly be rescheduled for later dates, while thousands of Spanish military personnel remain on standby.
The General Command of Ceuta has ordered all deployed military personnel to remain available to help “prevent a new attempt at mass entry,” according to Spanish media.
The order applies to units including the logistics unit, the General Command headquarters battalion, the 54th Regular Forces Group, the 3rd Montesa Cavalry Regiment, the engineering regiment and the 30th Artillery Regiment, as well as medical services under the General Command of Ceuta.
Security reinforcements have also included 45 additional members of Spain’s National Police intervention unit.
The Civil Guard has retained 160 officers to reinforce security inside the city and another 60 to monitor surrounding areas. Additional support includes maritime units, divers, drones and a helicopter.
The measures indicate that Spanish authorities are treating the calls for an Aug. 15 crossing as a potential security threat requiring precautionary measures, rather than as confirmation that another mass entry attempt will take place.
The Civil Guard has opened an investigation into the calls circulating online, while Spanish authorities have said the scale of any potential attempt remains unclear.
CBS News reported that Spanish authorities are monitoring social media posts pointing to an online campaign encouraging migrants to attempt another crossing into Ceuta.
The National Police and Civil Guard are gathering information from social media to assess the level of the threat and determine what measures may be necessary, the report said.
According to CBS News, the posts have circulated in two public groups, “Migration to Ceuta Inshallah” and “Moroccan migrants (Harraga Maroc),” which together have more than 74,000 members.
Raúl Díaz, a spokesman for Spain’s Interior Ministry, told CBS News that the National Police and Civil Guard are monitoring the situation on social media to gather information and take appropriate decisions based on the level of threat.
The latest security measures come as Spanish and Moroccan authorities continue to grapple with the fallout from recent migration pressure around Ceuta, including the movement of Moroccan minors and concerns over human trafficking networks exploiting migrants seeking to reach Europe.
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