Spain Accuses Morocco of Allowing Mass Migrant Crossing at Melilla Border

A political leader quoted by La Vanguardia accuses Morocco of having intentionally allowed the assault of sub-Saharan migrants at the Melilla border in order to "put pressure" on Spain at a time when the relationship between the two countries was beginning to take a positive turn.

While they were at Mount Gourougou, on the heights of Nador, the sub-Saharan migrants waited for the right moment to try to cross into Spain. In a "very coordinated" manner, the migrants began to move at 8 a.m. to arrive at the barrier separating Morocco from Melilla around 9:30 a.m. "It is impossible that Morocco did not detect a human column of 2,500 people moving over more than 15 km," denounce government sources.

The passivity of the Moroccan authorities is reminiscent of the fact that last May, some 10,000 people had managed to cross the border of Ceuta under the complicit eye of the Moroccan police. It is said that yesterday’s assault was one of the most violent in recent years. As a result, 25 injuries were reported among the Guardia Civil agents and 2 among the police, according to a police source on the spot, who said the migrants had hooks, sticks and screws on their shoes to better cling to the barriers.

However, the local authorities tacitly acknowledge the intervention of Moroccan security agents, among whom several injuries were reported. The Moroccan police stationed at the border "worked hard" to contain the irregular entry of migrants.

Result of this assault: 491 people managed to reach the other side of the border. Once there, they headed to the immigration center (CETI) to apply for political asylum.