Migrants attempt to breach Spain-Morocco border fence

A group of about 300 sub-Saharan migrants on Tuesday staged a mass attempt to breach the border fence between Spain and Morocco, authorities said.

The mass attempt to reach Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African mainland, early on Tuesday saw about 100 migrants succeed, while about 200 others were blocked by Spanish and Moroccan security forces, Efe news reported.

The 100 or so who managed to get over the fence were taken to a temporary immigrant processing centre.

The incident took place at the southern part of the border fence in Melilla, and saw migrants hurling rocks as efforts to reach Spanish territory turned violent, according to the authorities.

During the assault, three members of the Spanish Civil Guard were injured and several security vehicles were damaged.

The last successful mass attempt to reach Melilla was on February 6, when 18 of a group of 40 migrants made it over a fence in the same area.

--IANS

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