Hundreds of migrants cross long barbed wire fences to reach Spain
Hundreds of African migrants, all young men from West Africa, managed to reach the European Union by climbing over six-meter-high barbed wire in the Spanish city of Ceuta and attacking border guards.
Hundreds of African migrants without legal documents have climbed six-meter-high fences into the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, entering the European Union, in what Spanish media described as one of the most unprecedented influxes of migrants into the city in recent years.
A police spokesman for the city of Ceuta said the illegal immigrants were all young men from West African countries and that their action was "the most violent and unprecedented attack by immigrants" in the city.
It is said that in this attack, 400 to 600 African migrants "suddenly and with great violence" climbed over the barbed wire, crossed it, and attacked border guards, making their way into the European Union.
The migrants used sticks, scissors and bottles containing homemade incendiary devices in their rush to reach the European Union. The International Committee of the Red Cross said that 592 migrants and 22 police officers received medical attention after the incident.
Several migrants are said to have thrown substances at Spanish border guards, causing dangerous chemical burns when they came into contact with their skin. Chainsaws were also used to cut barbed wire during the raid.
Spanish TV channels show videos of migrants celebrating after crossing barbed wire, waving flags and chanting: "Bosa, Bosa, Bosa (Victory, victory, victory)."
It is also said that the migrants' joy comes at a time when they usually have to stay for months in asylum processing centers in Ceuta before entering mainland Spain.
A few days ago, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that Spain has become the new destination for migrants. Since the beginning of this year (2018), more than 22,700 people have managed to reach Europe via the new Western Mediterranean route.
Until recently, the issue of refugees was not a major concern in Spain. However, with the recent influx of hundreds of migrants into the city of Ceuta to reach the European Union, differences between different parties in the country's parliament regarding migrants have intensified.
The city of Ceuta is located on the northern coast of the African continent and shares a land border with Morocco. Ceuta is located between two bodies of water, the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Ceuta, along with Melilla, is one of two Spanish cities located on the African mainland. Morocco considers Ceuta and Melilla part of its territory. Thousands of poor citizens from sub-Saharan Africa have gathered near these two cities, trying to reach them and eventually the European Union by any means necessary.
Source: DW
