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HUNDREDS of migrants have tried to cross Spain’s border with Africa in an try to enter Europe.
There have been chaotic scenes close to the fence separating Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Ceuta over the weekend after a social media marketing campaign impressed a mass irregular crossing try.
Movies shared on-line confirmed lots of of younger males, largely from Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa, gathering on a hilltop close to the border within the city of Fnideq (Castillejos).
Moroccan safety forces have been repeatedly compelled to push again the migrants, with officers in riot gear forming a barrier between them and the fence – earlier than firing bullets into the air in an try to disperse the crowds.
Teams making an attempt to swim throughout have been additionally intercepted on the seashores of Castillejos (within the south) and Beliones (to the north), the place tragically, the physique of a Moroccan man, who’s believed to have drowned, was discovered.
A number of buses have been despatched to the Tarajal crossing to move migrants who had tried to breach the fence on Sunday morning, relocating them to areas removed from the Spanish border.
Quite a few arrests have taken place, with paperwork and private belongings confiscated. Regardless of this, many stay undeterred.
“They do that intentionally to scare us and hold us from attempting once more. But it surely received’t cease us; we’ll hold coming again as many occasions as wanted,” one migrant advised La Sexta.
Morocco, nonetheless, has not offered knowledge on the variety of individuals detained in the course of the makes an attempt on Saturday and Sunday nor on the safety forces deployed on the border.
Spain’s Guardia Civil stays stationed within the space with a particular unit, whereas the navy is on standby, although no migrants have but managed to achieve the 10-metre-high fence.
Prior to now, there have been comparable mass makes an attempt to cross Ceuta’s 8km border, most lately in August, when lots of of younger individuals tried to swim previous border controls.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recently visited Mauritania, Senegal, and Gambia—international locations the place migrants have, at occasions, misplaced their lives of their efforts to achieve Europe.
His purpose was to advertise cooperation on migration with neighbouring African international locations in mild of accelerating stress to handle migrant arrivals in Ceuta and the Canary Islands.
Since resolving a diplomatic rift in 2022 relating to Rabat’s plans for autonomy in Western Sahara, Morocco and Spain have labored collectively to strengthen cooperation on unlawful migration.
Following Sunday’s occasions, Spain has expressed appreciation for Morocco’s “shut collaboration” and the “nice effort” made by the nation’s police forces, according to EFE.
