Hundreds of Immigrants Enter Melilla in a Massive Jump over the Fence

Spanish Translation of the Week

Around 100 immigrants arrived this Tuesday in Melilla after a massive new leap across the border fence that has already been crossed by some 300 Sub-Saharan Africans. This was followed by another crossing at about 4am Wednesday in the northern zone of the perimeter between Mariguari and Rostrogordo, according to local police.

Alrededor de un centenar de inmigrantes ha llegado este martes a Melilla en un nuevo salto masivo a la valla fronteriza que ha estado protagonizado por unos 300 subsaharianos. La entrada se ha producido pasadas las cuatro de la madrugada de este miércoles en la zona norte del perímetro, situada entre Mariguari y Rostrogordo, según fuentes policiales.

This article has been translated from Spanish. Click here to read the original version on EL Pais

There have been no injuries to immigrants or security forces. The government representative in Melilla, Abdelmalik El Barkani, however, said at a press conference that the immigrants had attacked the fence "very aggressively" and had thrown rocks at Moroccan security forces which, in addition to the Civil Guard, have detained immigrants who had not yet made it to the autonomous city.

A Civil Guard helicopter, which will be in Melilla for several weeks to assist with surveillance, is being used to assist in capturing immigrants.

This was the first large crossing in the last few weeks, although there have been many sightings of Sub-Saharan Africans who had not yet reached the fence, according to sources. For the last few months, the government has warned of the permanent threat of immigration to Melilla.

Once in Melilla, said El Barkani, immigrants are turned over to Police Headquarters for identification, and many are transferred to the Temporary Center for Immigrants (CETI).

Melilla Border. Photo courtesy of Noborder Network