adminMADRID — Over 600 African migrants charged the border fence separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco yesterday, with at least 35 managing to climb the dangerously high barrier, including five who were injured, Spain’s government said.They were the latest in a flow of thousands of migrants trying to reach Melilla and the other Spanish north African territory of Ceuta, which together make up Europe’s only borders with Africa.
The border assault came just hours after Moroccan authorities said they would dismantle camps set up around the two territories by thousands of African migrants seeking to cross into Spain illegally.
Some 400 African migrants approached the six-metre, triple-layer fence around Melilla at around 02:00 but were repelled by police, the Spanish government delegation in Melilla said in a statement.
Several hours later another group of around 200 migrants charged the border fence at another spot and 35 managed to enter Melilla.
Five migrants were injured including two who fractured leg bones and needed to be taken to hospital, the statement said. — AFP
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter