Eighteen migrants die in 'stampede' during attempt to cross into Spanish enclave of Melilla, Moroccan authorities say

Spain's prime minister claims the "well-organised violent assault" was arranged by "human trafficking mafias" and praises authorities for how they dealt with the incident.

Migrants climb the fences separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in Melilla, Spain, Friday, June 24, 2022. Dozens of migrants stormed the border crossing between Morocco and the Spanish enclave city of Melilla on Friday in what is the first such incursion since Spain and Morocco mended diplomatic relations last month. (AP Photo/Javier Bernardo)
Image: Eighteen migrants die in attempted crossing into Spanish enclave. Pic: AP
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Eighteen migrants have died in a "stampede" of people trying to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, Moroccan authorities have said.

Around 2,000 migrants stormed a high fence that seals off the enclave in a violent-two hour skirmish with border officers.

Morocco's interior ministry said the casualties occurred when people tried to climb an iron fence.

It originally reported that five migrants had been killed but later revised the figure saying another 13 had died, and more than 70 other migrants and around 140 border officers had been injured.

Friday's attempt to cross the border began at around 6.40am, with more than 500 migrants starting to enter Melilla within just two hours, the Madrid government's representative body said in a statement.

Most were forced back but around 130 men managed to reach the enclave and were being processed at its reception centre for immigrants, it added.

Footage posted online showed large groups of youths walking along roads around the border, celebrating entering Melilla and the firing of, what appeared to be, tear gas by the authorities.

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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez praised officers on both sides of the border for dealing with the "well-organised violent assault", which he suggested was arranged by "human trafficking mafias".

"I would like to thank the extraordinary cooperation we are having with the Kingdom of Morocco which demonstrates the need to have the best of relations," he said.

Migrants run on Spanish soil after crossing the fences separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in Melilla, Spain, Friday, June 24, 2022. Dozens of migrants stormed the border crossing between Morocco and the Spanish enclave city of Melilla on Friday in what is the first such incursion since Spain and Morocco mended diplomatic relations last month. (AP Photo/Javier Bernardo)
Image: Migrants run on Spanish soil after crossing the fences separating Melilla from Morocco. Pic: AP
Riot police officers, left, cordon off the area after migrants arrive on Spanish soil and crossing the fences separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in Melilla, Spain, Friday, June 24, 2022. Dozens of migrants stormed the border crossing between Morocco and the Spanish enclave city of Melilla on Friday in what is the first such incursion since Spain and Morocco mended diplomatic relations last month. (AP Photo/Javier Bernardo)
Image: Migrants clash with border officers. Pic: AP

The crossings marked the first incursion since relations between Spain and Morocco improved in March after a year-long dispute centred on the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1976.

Spain normally relies on Morocco to keep migrants away from the border, with Melilla and Ceuta, a second Spanish enclave, becoming a magnet for migrants trying to get into Europe over the last decade.

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Last year, Morocco loosened its controls around Ceuta, allowing thousands of migrants to cross into Spain.

Tensions between the two countries began to thaw earlier this year after Spain backed Morocco's plan to grant more autonomy to Western Sahara, where activists are seeking full independence.