Spain Closes Border Crossing with Morocco

The Spanish authorities have closed the only border crossing with Morocco located in the autonomous city of Melilla, known as Beni Enza, after hundreds of migrants attempted to cross the border. This was reported by El Pais, citing local authorities.

The city administration has urged residents to avoid approaching the border area to not hinder the work of security forces. According to EFE, gunshots were also heard in the border region.

Migrants began to storm the Melilla border on Thursday night, trying to reach Spain both by land and by sea. According to Melilla's president, Juan José Imbroda, approximately 300-400 migrants managed to enter.

At the same time, a more serious migration crisis is developing in another Northern African enclave of Spain, Ceuta. TVE reported that about 2,000 to 3,000 people have crossed the border there. It is also known that at least 18 deceased migrants have been reported, whose bodies were washed ashore by the sea. Spanish authorities have also sent ground troop units to Ceuta.

Media reports indicate that the situation has worsened following a decision by Spain's Supreme Court, which prohibited the rapid deportation of migrants found at sea attempting to reach the enclaves. In this context, representatives of the opposition People's Party have criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, accusing it of exacerbating the migration crisis.