Hundreds of migrants enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla

MADRID (Reuters) – About 350 migrants managed to cross the fence marking the border of the Spanish enclave of Melilla, on the northern coast of Morocco, on Thursday, while a thousand people tried to enter the territory, said local authorities.

According to representatives in Melilla of the Spanish central government, nearly 1,200 “extremely violent” people tried to cross the six-meter high fence, using hooks and sticks against the security forces and throwing stones at them, injuring slightly four policemen.

This episode came the day after an unprecedented intrusion attempt involving 2,500 migrants, 500 of whom managed to enter the enclave, said Madrid government spokeswoman in Melilla, Isabel Rodriguez.

Many migrants from the African continent try to reach Europe via Melilla and Ceuta, a second Spanish enclave on the northern coast of Morocco.

(Report Emma Pinedo, French version Myriam Rivet, edited by Blandine Hénault)