200 Migrants Storm Border to Enter Spain

 

Over 200 migrants have stormed a 6mt-high barbed wire border fence to enter Spain's northwest African enclave of Melilla from Morocco - the second such crossing in a week.

The surge occurred at 06:00 local time, which also saw a further 100 migrants fail in their bid to pass through the first of just 2 land borders between Africa and the EU - the second being the border with Ceuta.

Carlos Montero, who runs a temporary accommodation centre for migrants, said that the incident happened today.

He told Spanish National Radio the centre, which was intended to house 500, now has 1,300 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa.

Melilla is surrounded by Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea. Migrants trying to get to Europe camp on the Moroccan side, waiting for the chance to scale the fence. Thousands try each year to enter the city and Spain's other coastal enclave, Ceuta.

On February 6, at least 15 migrants drowned while trying to enter Ceuta by sea.

All of the migrants are expected to be returned to Morocco and be denied further passage to the mainland.

Further Reading :

* Spain Police : Shooting Rubber Bullets at Migrants "Lawful"