Eighteen migrants have died in a 'stampede' of people trying to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, Moroccan authorities have said
Spain's prime minister claims the"well-organised violent assault" was arranged by"human trafficking mafias" and praises authorities for how they dealt with the incident.Eighteen migrants have died in a"stampede" of people trying to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, Moroccan authorities have said.
Around 2,000 migrants stormed a high fence that seals off the enclave in a violent-two hour skirmish with border officers.It originally reported that five migrants had been killed but later revised the figure saying another 13 had died, and more than 70 other migrants and around 140 border officers had been injured.
Friday's attempt to cross the border began at around 6.40am, with more than 500 migrants starting to enter Melilla within just two hours, the Madrid government's representative body said in a statement.Most were forced back but around 130 men managed to reach the enclave and were being processed at its reception centre for immigrants, it added.
Footage posted online showed large groups of youths walking along roads around the border, celebrating entering Melilla and the firing of, what appeared to be, tear gas by the authorities.
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