The crisis in Ceuta, on the African coast, instantly became a touchstone in the global migrant debate as suspicions swirled that the viral incident was orchestrated.

Spanish authorities said that despite the record crossing of migrants, almost everyone who entered illegally has returned to Morocco.

Spain’s prime minister slammed the reaction of some other European leaders, saying calls to suspend Spain from the borderless Schengen zone were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest.

The mass crossing into Ceuta caused division in Europe, with Italy threatening to suspend the EU’s internal open border scheme.

Most of the migrants returned to Morocco after as many as 60,000 overwhelmed the tiny Spanish territory of Ceuta.

Spain and Morocco reinforced the border fence of a Spanish enclave after around 49,000 people arrived by sea in one day. Dozens of bodies have been recovered, Spanish authorities said.

Conservative leaders across Europe react as an estimated 60,000 migrants crossed into Ceuta from Morocco within 24 hours, threatening its open-border policies.

According to Spanish authorities, about 50,000 people crossed into Ceuta by land and sea from Thursday in an unprecedented surge.