2,000 migrants attempt to breach Spain’s Melilla border with Morocco

Melilla, Spain, Jun 24 (EFE).- Around 2,000 migrants on Friday attempted to breach the border between Morocco and the Spanish North African territory of Melilla, officials said.

A total of 130 people managed to enter the Spanish city and are currently at a temporary holding center, the Spanish government’s Melilla office said.

It was the first mass breach of the border since May 2021, when thousands of migrants irregularly entered Melilla and Ceuta, another Spanish territory in North Africa, amid a diplomatic crisis between Madrid and Rabat.

This time, Spanish authorities said the breach occurred despite the cooperation of Moroccan security forces.

Spanish border police detected a group of migrants gathered at the border fence at 6.40am, Melilla officials said.

Two hours later, individuals from the group “broke the access gate” at one of the border control stations and some clambered over the roof of the building to enter Melilla.

A helicopter and a drone were deployed to aid in the Spanish police response to the breach.

In recent days there have been clashes between groups of migrants and security forces on the Moroccan side of the border. EFE

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