100 African migrants storm border into Spanish enclave of Melilla

Around 100 African migrants were able to climb over the double fence which separates Morocco from the Spanish North-African enclave of Melilla on Tuesday morning, the Spanish police have confirmed.

The assault on the 6-meter high double fence happened at around 7 a.m. local time and involved an estimated 300 sub-Saharans, who, according to the Spanish Interior Ministry, kicked and threw stones at border police. Among them, some 100 managed to climb over the fence and force their way into Melilla.

Three migrants were also injured, and several police vehicles were damaged, according to the ministry.

The Red Cross also confirmed that three migrants suffered slight injuries.

Melilla and Ceuta, a second Spanish enclave in Morocco, are both classified as European Union (EU) territory. The two frontiers are the only land border between Africa and the EU.

Thousands of migrants have been camped in the hills outside of the two cities, awaiting their chance to try and cross the frontier, either by attempting to scale the fence, swimming in along the coast, or by hiding inside vehicles taking produce into the enclaves.

Around 850 migrants were able to force their way into Ceuta in February, placing a huge strain on the Immigrant Reception Center. Spain was forced to announce in March that it would be increasing the capacity of the centers in both Ceuta and Melilla. Endit