300 migrants attempt to storm frontier at Spanish enclave of Melilla

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-22 07:14:37|Editor: Yamei
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MADRID, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- A group of around 300 sub-Saharan migrants attempted to storm the frontier fence which separates Morocco from the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta on Tuesday, the Civil Guard confirmed.

The attempt took place in the early hours of Tuesday morning when the migrants ran down from the nearby hills where they are camped to try to climb the double 6-meter fence into what is effectively European Union (EU) territory.

The presence of Moroccan military personnel meant that the majority were unable to reach the wire and just two were able to climb it.

These two were immediately returned to Morocco after being checked for injuries.

Spanish interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido insisted that returning the pair to Morocco was not against Spanish or European law.

"We apply the current law on rights in the European Union... We did nothing illegal," said Zoido, whose government was recently condemned by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for a similar action which the court considered to be against the European Convention on Human Rights.

This is the second attempt on the frontier at Ceuta in just 11 days after around 200 immigrants attempted to enter the enclave on Nov. 10.

Meanwhile, the government delegate for Andalusia, Antonio Sanz, defended the decision taken on Monday to house immigrants who have recently arrived in Spain at the Archidona prison in the province of Malaga.

Sanz said the decision had been taken due to the "exceptional" circumstances which have seen "1,000 immigrants," arrive in a "question of hours," insisting it was merely a temporary measure.

As of mid-November, Spanish Maritime Rescue services have saved over 15,000 people this year who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean.

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