Morocco has been accused of facilitating the mass influx of around 60,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.Around 60,000 people swam from Morocco into the Spanish city located on the northern coast of North Africa on Thursday. The Spanish territory, which shares a land border with the North African country, was overrun as tens of thousands of migrants arrived in just 24 hours. Arrivals in Ceuta alleged that Moroccan police officers encouraged them as they journeyed towards the enclave. Youssef Alaoui, 26, said officers were guiding his group as they approached, pointing them in the correct direction. 'They just kept saying, "Go that way, go that way",' Mr Alaoui told The New York Times. Meanwhile, Mohammed Ahmidho, 37, who heard about the surge of migrants into Spain via social media, said he heard officers saying 'Come to Spain' as he neared the border. Lorenzo Gabrielli, a senior researcher at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona who researches migration in Ceuta, told the newspaper earlier on Friday: 'It is impossible for nearly 50,000 people to cross the border between Morocco and Spain in a single day without Morocco having a hand in it.'Fifty-seven bodies have since been found on the Spanish side of the border, a Spanish government representative in Ceuta said. Some are said to have drowned while others were crushed trying to climb the breakwater that holds the border fence, they added. Armed services restrain a migrant after arriving on Tarajal beach after crossing the border between Spain and Morocco Spain has claimed it is under 'attack' as Europe threatens to close its border with the country while the government battles to manage a massive wave of migrants People walk on a beach as they attempt to cross from the Moroccan northern town of Fnideq to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on July 31 Fifty-seven bodies have since been found on the Spanish side of the border, a Spanish government representative in Ceuta said Some are said to have drowned while others were crushed trying to climb the breakwater that holds the border fence, they added Spanish security forces take measures as migrants arrive on the shore of the Spanish city of Ceuta in North Africa after attempting to swim from Morocco on July 31 More casualties may be on the Moroccan side, a Spanish government representative in Ceuta addedMore casualties may be on the Moroccan side as hundreds have been seen returning as they said they were unable to find food or shelter in the Spanish enclave. 'Honestly, I don't even know why I came, and now I'm going back,' a young Moroccan man from Tangier said. 'I haven't eaten since lunch yesterday, even though I brought some money with me. What we're doing is neither good nor enjoyable.'Meanwhile, Western intelligence sources have claimed the sudden influx may be a demonstration of the country's leverage amid diplomatic tensions with Spain. And while Spain claimed it was under 'attack' as it battled to manage the huge wave of migrants, sources told the Telegraph said it was 'surprising that 60,000 can travel unchecked' through Morocco. But they have insisted that it was too soon to reach an absolute conclusion on what sparked the surge of migrants. Some Moroccans claimed to have been guided by viral social media posts covering a Spanish immigration loophole. It comes as Spain's Supreme Court recently ruled that migrants who are stopped at sea attempting to reach Melilla or Ceuta, both Spanish enclaves, could not be summarily sent back to Morocco.Amid the chaos, Italy has suspended its EU border-free Schengen arrangements with the Mediterranean country. Earlier, it said it was weighing up 'extraordinary measures' including closing its open-border agreement with the country in response to recent events. Italy does not have a land border with Spain; however, the move will affect those travelling by plane or boat between the two countries. A member of the armed services guard migrants going back to Morocco after crossing the border between Spain and Morocco on July 31, 2026 People pose for a photo as they attempt to cross from the Moroccan northern town of Fnideq to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Friday People walk past burnt out cars at the site of clashes at the Bab Sebta border crossing near Fnideq, Morocco, 31 July 2026 Morocco is said to have facilitated the mass influx of around 60,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Western intelligence sources believe Migrants rest after crossing from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, Friday, July 31, 2026