SPAIN: Illegal Immigrants force entry into Spain's Melilla enclave in Morocco

Record ID: 348723

  • Title: SPAIN: Illegal Immigrants force entry into Spain's Melilla enclave in Morocco
  • Date: 4th October 2005
  • Summary: IMMIGRANTS SITTING ON THE GROUND IN THE POLICE COMPOUND FEET OF IMMIGRANT IMMIGRANTS SITTING (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA6ZSTZQO0TSCFCJB188BQXK0JT
  • Story Text: Around 700 sub-Saharan migrants charged at border fences around Spain's North African enclave of Melilla on Monday (October 3), with about 200 managing to get over after the fence collapsed, officials said. State radio said many of the migrants and several Spanish officials were hurt. It was the fourth such attempt at Spain's North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla since last week.
    Spain sent in the army to reinforce security at the outposts after five Africans were killed during an attempt to enter Ceuta last Thursday (September 29). Police sources in the area said about 200 had managed to get across using make-shift ladders.
    The double fence had been torn down in parts. Pieces of ripped clothing were scattered over the wire. Separately, sea rescue services had given up the search for 14 would-be immigrants missing after their boat sank off the Canary Islands killing at least three, state radio reported.
    Another 17 immigrants were rescued from the rickety boat which capsized around 26 miles off the southeastern coast of the island of Fuerteventura. Spain's interior minister has confirmed reports that two of the victims in Cueta last week had died of bullet wounds, but has not said who fired the shots. An investigation is under way. The deaths put a spotlight on the immigration problem just as Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was about to hold talks with his Moroccan counterpart Driss Jettou. Both sides are under pressure to sort out immigration chaos on Europe's only land borders with Africa.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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