Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 00:43:49 +0100
Hundreds of migrants storm Africa's Spanish enclave
RABAT/MADRID Tue Mar 18, 2014 1:14pm EDT
<http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/18/us-morocco-spain-migrants-idUSBRE
A2H1OG20140318>
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Reuters/Jesus Blasco de Avellaneda
(Reuters) - About 500 people forced their way into Spain's North African
enclave of Melilla on Tuesday, Spanish officials said, the largest number to
storm the border in almost a decade as increasing naval patrols discourage
entry by sea.
Spain has two enclaves in Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla, and migrants from all
over Africa regularly try to reach them, mostly by climbing the triple
barriers that separate them from Morocco. Deaths and injuries are common.
Making the most of dense fog to sneak up to the crossing and climb the high
wire fence, a total of 1,100 people, according to Spanish figures, and about
600, according to Morocco, made a rush across the border throughout the
night and morning.
Nearly 300 were arrested and at least 28 were injured, the Moroccan Interior
Ministry said.
"There's been a mass rush (which was) unfortunately violent, which has
become the norm. On the Moroccan side they threw stones, sticks and other
objects at the security forces," Melilla governor Melilla, Abdelmalik El
Barkani, told reporters.
Twenty nine migrants were being treated by emergency services in Melilla,
according to the Spanish government.
Migrants, throwing sticks and stones, ignored warnings of security forces on
the scene and injured five police officers by throwing stones, the Moroccan
Interior Ministry said. In a dawn rush, about 120 migrants were arrested,
including 28 who were injured and hospitalized in the Moroccan city of
Nador, it said.
During the night, at around 0200 GMT, another group of migrants faced with
security forces outside the triple fence surrounding Melilla and 150 were
arrested, the statement said.
In February, the European Union asked Spain to explain why police fired
rubber bullets in warning when a group of African migrants tried to wade and
swim to Ceuta. Fifteen men died when the shots caused panic among the
immigrants, according to Spain.
Thousands of migrants camp for months around Beni Chiguer, from where the
attempts were made on Tuesday. The area is covered in shrubs, providing
daytime cover for people who then attempt to cross by night.
Migrants enter the enclaves without official documents, often without
belongings and wearing just flimsy shoes and shorts, and are housed in
temporary centers until their identity can be determined or until they are
moved.
Many end up in continental Spain and either stay there or travel throughout
Europe.
(Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi in Rabat and Emma Pinedo in Madrid; Writing
by Paul Day; Editing by
<http://blogs.reuters.com/search/journalist.php?edition=us&n=louise.ireland&
> Louise Ireland)
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<http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSBREA2H1OG20140318#a=1>
Would-be immigrants gather in the courtyard of a temporary immigrant holding
center after crossing the border from Morocco to Spain's North African
enclave of Melilla March 18, 2014. REUTERS-Jesus Blasco de Avellaneda
<http://www.reuters.com/article/slideshow/idUSBREA2H1OG20140318#a=2>
Would-be immigrants react from behind the fence of a temporary immigrant
holding center after crossing the border from Morocco to Spain's north
African enclave of Melilla March 18, 2014. REUTERS-Jesus Blasco de
Avellaneda
1 of 2. Would-be immigrants gather in the courtyard of a temporary immigrant
holding center after crossing the border from Morocco to Spain's North
African enclave of Melilla March 18, 2014.
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