25 Jun 2022

Eighteen dead in mass break-in to Spanish enclave of Melilla

6:27 pm on 25 June 2022

Eighteen migrants have died and others were injured when a huge crowd tried to cross into the Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, officials from neighbouring Morocco say.

This file photo taken on 4 March, 2022 shows a view of the border fence separating Morocco (L) from Spain's North African Melilla enclave (R), near Nador in Morocco. Around 2000 migrants tried to storm the border separating Spain's Melilla enclave from Morocco on 24 June, the first such attempted mass crossing into the territory since the two nations mended diplomatic ties in March. Over 500 managed to enter the border control area after cutting a fence with shears, the Spanish government's local delegation said in a statement.

Eighteen people died after several hundred migrants attempted a mass crossing from Morocco (left of the border fence) into Spain's North African Melilla enclave (R). Photo: Fadel Senna / AFP

Reports said some of those who died had fallen from the top of a border fence.

Several security personnel and migrants were admitted to hospital for treatment following clashes early on Friday.

It was the first such attempted mass crossing since Spain and Morocco resumed diplomatic ties in March.

The thaw in relations came after Spain supported Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed region of Western Sahara.

Spanish officials said several hundred migrants tried to break through into the enclave after cutting fencing.

Most were forced back but more than 100 got through and were being processed at a reception centre, they added.

Melilla and Ceuta, another Spanish enclave, have in recent years become a focal point for mostly sub-Saharan migrants attempting to reach Europe.

- BBC

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