On Sunday, hundreds of people, including Moroccans and migrants from other parts of Africa as well as some minors, headed towards the village of Fnideq, which abuts Sebtah , before being sent back by Moroccan police, the AFP photographer said.

Local media reported another mass crossing attempt earlier on Sunday, similarly foiled by Moroccan police.

Security forces increased their deployment around Fnideq over the weekend following calls on social media to attempt the crossing into Sebtah on Sunday.

According to local media, hundreds of young Moroccans still managed to reach Fnideq, with police apprehending them during the night and sending them back to their hometowns elsewhere in Morocco.

A police source told AFP that 60 people were arrested between Monday and Wednesday for "fabricating and disseminating false information on social media" that encouraged "the organisation of collective illegal immigration operations".

The Moroccan interior ministry has said that in August alone, authorities blocked more than 11,300 attempts to cross into Sebtah and some 3,300 into Melilla.

Moroccans accuse Spain of colonialism by retaining control of Sebtah and Melilla.

Both enclaves enjoy local autonomy and have their own governments, led by city presidents. They return deputies and senators to the Spanish parliament.

The main route out of Morocco for irregular migrants hoping to reach Spain remains by sea.

More than 22,300 migrant arrivals were registered this year by August 15 in the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean, marking a 126-percent increase from 2023.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online