African immigrants storm Melilla fence in largest border assault in history
Thursday, March 20, 2014 @ 9:43 AM
THE greatest ever 'human avalanche' of would-be migrants climbing Melilla's border fence en masse has been reported in the last 24 hours, and an estimated 492 sub-Saharan Africans have managed to enter Spanish territory.
And this figure may even be higher, since a full headcount has not been carried out, according to police on both sides of the fence.
This is the greatest-ever assault on the border of the Spanish-owned city-province of Melilla, on the northern Moroccan coast, since 2005 when hundreds of Africans stormed the three-metre-high fence and several were killed.
As yet no fatalities have been reported, and the immigrants were snapped by reporters with wide smiles and making victory and thumbs-up signs.
Most of them have come from war-torn Mali and took advantage of thick fog obscuring the view for border guards in the area between Mariguari and the river Nano.
Whooping and cheering, the Malians headed straight to the temporary foreigners' residence centre (CETI) in Melilla where they were given water and clothing, since many had shed their shirts and jackets en route.
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