Spain's north African enclave Melilla stormed by migrants
- 10 years ago
Hundreds of illegal migrants have successfully entered Spain’s north African enclave of Melilla via Morocco.
More than 1,000 migrants tried to breach the territory’s defences in the early hours on Wednesday – with around 400 getting through.
Those that made it ran through the streets cheering as they headed to Melilla’s temporary migration centre.
Designed to take in 500 people, it is already home to 2,000 migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans.
Surrounded by a triple layer border fence, migrants regularly try to enter Melilla and Spain’s other North African enclave, Ceuta. The two tiny territories are the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
Many migrants spend months camping out on the Moroccan side of the border waiting for a chance to enter Europe.
Spain has beefed up security in its two enclaves in recent months following numerous attempts by migrants to enter via land, in part in response to increased naval patrols preventing people getting to Europe by boat.
More than 1,000 migrants tried to breach the territory’s defences in the early hours on Wednesday – with around 400 getting through.
Those that made it ran through the streets cheering as they headed to Melilla’s temporary migration centre.
Designed to take in 500 people, it is already home to 2,000 migrants, mostly sub-Saharan Africans.
Surrounded by a triple layer border fence, migrants regularly try to enter Melilla and Spain’s other North African enclave, Ceuta. The two tiny territories are the European Union’s only land border with Africa.
Many migrants spend months camping out on the Moroccan side of the border waiting for a chance to enter Europe.
Spain has beefed up security in its two enclaves in recent months following numerous attempts by migrants to enter via land, in part in response to increased naval patrols preventing people getting to Europe by boat.