At least 18 migrants dead as thousands breach Spanish enclave in north Africa

CEUTA, Spain (AP) — At least 18 migrants have died trying to reach the Spanish territory of Ceuta after thousands of people breached the frontier with Morocco and poured in.The border crisis boiled over Thursday and overnight. Spain’s state broadcaster RTVE broadcast images of burned cars on the Moroccan side of the border after reported clashes.Rachid Sbihi, who leads a local workers association representing Civil Guard officers called the situation a “serious humanitarian crisis,” saying thousands of migrants, including unaccompanied children, were left sleeping in parks and sidewalks, while others roamed the streets aimlessly.“People are still entering. The reinforcements that have arrived are only helping the injured and other humanitarian efforts,” he said. “It’s chaotic.”Among the 18 who died, many drowned, Sbihi said, but some were also killed in a stampede to cross the breakwater fence at Tarajal beach, an urban beach near a border checkpoint with Morocco.Ahmed Karim, a…
At least 18 migrants have died after thousands breached the border from Morocco into the Spanish territory of Ceuta. The crisis, which escalated on Thursday and overnight, saw migrants, including unaccompanied children, sleeping in parks and streets. Rachid Sbihi, a local workers association leader, described it as a “serious humanitarian crisis,” noting that many deaths were due to drowning or a stampede at the Tarajal beach breakwater. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska are visiting Ceuta, while France has activated its Rapid Intervention Border Force to strengthen checks with Spain. Moroccan authorities have not commented on the influx, which also saw attempts to cross into Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla.
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