MADRID: The Spanish government says five police officers and five migrants have been treated for minor injuries after some 300 African migrants scaled fences six-meters (20-feet) high to try to enter Spain’s northwest African enclave city of Melilla from Morocco.
A Spanish Civil Guard pulls an African migrant from a border fence, as Spanish Civil Guard officers stand underneath, during an attempt to cross into Spanish territories, between Morocco and Spain’s north African enclave of Melilla on Wednesday. (Reuters)
The Interior Ministry says the migrants got past Moroccan forces Wednesday to scale the fences, but only three managed to reach Melilla.
It said many of the migrants were armed with knives, sticks and stones and some set pieces of clothing on fire to throw at police.
The ministry said the injuries occurred in scuffles and falls.
It was the second such attempt in two days.
Thousands of African immigrants living illegally in Morocco try to enter Spain’s enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta each year in a bid to reach Europe.
AP / ARABNEWS.COM
Are the Spanish not yet fed-up with their two ‘enclaves’ in Morocco? When will they hand it over to Morocco?
On another thought: Why not just pass a law that any migrant reaching these enclaves will not be entitled to go to Europe? They can just be put on a plane back home. When word gets around the climbing of fences will stop. Logical thinking? Seems I am the only one …