Five people died while trying, along with hundreds of others, to enter Spanish territory from Morocco through the barrier on the border with the enclave of Melilla : El País reports, citing local Moroccan authorities. Several other migrants were reportedly injured.
About 2,000 migrants have approached the border in the last few hours ; of these, about 400 have tried to break through the barrier placed on the border , and 130 have succeeded.
After moments of tension, the situation now appears to have returned under the control of the Moroccan and Spanish law enforcement agencies , according to the Spanish media.
The attempted mass entry into Spain from Morocco occurred after a large number of migrants had approached the Melilla border in groups in the early hours of the morning. Despite the activation of the law enforcement agencies of both countries, the pressure was partially successful , reports the Efe news agency. According to the Spanish government delegation in Melilla, at least some of the people present were " violent and perfectly organized ".
The approximately 130 who managed to enter Spanish territory are now in a reception center .
Last March, Madrid and Rabat announced a "new phase" of bilateral relations, at the end of a long diplomatic crisis . For some days there had already been moments of tension on the Moroccan side of the border between groups of migrants trying to approach the border and police.
(Unioneonline / D)