MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Hundreds of migrants break into Spain's North Africa territories

Almost 500 migrants forced their way into Spanish territory in North Africa by breaking through gates in the 20ft fence that separates Morocco from Spain’s Ceuta enclave.

 The Ceuta regional government gave the figures, with officials saying it was believed to be the biggest border invasion in recent years.

About 700 migrants attempted to smash through several gates simultaneously at about 6am, according to a Ceuta government official.

He said 498 migrants made it into Spanish territory, with two taken to hospital due to injuries they sustained in the assault. He said 11 Spanish police were also hurt.

A Civil Guard spokesman said police clashed with the migrants at the Tarajal area of the fence, and at least 10 members of Morocco’s armed forces were also injured.

More than 30 migrants were treated at a migrant centre for bone fractures and other injuries. Some were cut trying to scale the fence, which is topped with barbed wire, said Clemen Nunez, director of Ceuta’s Red Cross emergency response team.

According to the Civil Guard, a surveillance camera showed hundreds of people approaching the fence, using tools and clubs to break one of the gates. In video filmed by Faro TV Ceuta, some migrants can be seen with blood on their faces and bruises, but mostly celebrating their arrival in Spanish territory. Some wrapped themselves with Spanish and European flags and shouted “Freedom!”

Hundreds of sub-Saharan African migrants are living illegally in Morocco and regularly attempt to enter Ceuta and Melilla, Spain’s other North African enclave, in the hope of getting into Europe. Most are fleeing poverty and violence.

On Friday, 55 of them were rejected, according to the Civil Guard, because those who are intercepted on the spot can be returned to Morocco.

Those who make it over the fences are usually taken to migrant centres and eventually repatriated or let go, many choosing to seek asylum or work informally in Spain or other European countries. Before the latest arrival, the migrant centre at Ceuta was already struggling to cope with more than 600 people and using military tents in nearby car parks.