Spanish authorities issue warning in Ceuta over viral videos encouraging sea crossings

 Civil Guard in of Ceuta issued a “warning” over the “spread of videos encouraging attempts to cross the maritime barrier in the Tarajal area by swimming, during the early hours of Sunday, September 15.”

Sources from the Civil Guard confirmed to the Spanish news agency “Europa Press” that “a prior warning was issued, and reinforcements have already been deployed and started arriving in the city.”

The Ceuta Government Delegation declined to confirm whether there would be exceptional deployment of forces on Sunday “for security reasons,” but it indicated that security forces are “prepared” for the possibility of increased pressure resulting from migration.

Police in Ceuta said that they will remain “on high alert,” emphasizing that Civil Guard reinforcements include both “human and material resources,” in addition to the deployment of a maritime patrol on the morning of Friday, as part of these reinforcements.

These Spanish security reinforcements coincide with the tightening of Moroccan authorities’ surveillance in the nearby town of Fnideq, where they have set up dozens of barriers and barbed wire in recent weeks to prevent access to the beach.

Since last Wednesday, security authorities have conducted a large-scale arrest campaign in Nador, Tangier, and Tetouan on charges of spreading “false news” on social media that encourages organizing “mass illegal migration attempts.”