Illegal migrants who arrived in the Spanish enclave from Morocco. File photoDOHA, Jun 26 The number of African migrants who have died attempting to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Melilla has risen to 23, AFP reported, citing Moroccan officials. Earlier, a Moroccan government source The city of Nador told RIA Novosti that 18 migrants died while trying to get from Morocco to Melilla (Spanish enclave in northern Africa).
"Another five migrants died of wounds after trying to enter Spain" Moroccan sources said.
Earlier, the Spanish newspaper Razon reported, citing sources familiar with the situation, that four security officials and 45 migrants who tried to get to Melilla were killed in clashes in Morocco. The Nador authorities, in turn, spoke of five dead migrants. According to the source, the dead migrants are from sub-Saharan Africa. On Friday morning, almost two thousand migrants approached the border in Melilla. A group of about 500 migrants attempted to enter Spanish territory by breaking down the door at the border checkpoint. It was noted that the migrants were armed with sticks and hooks and used them against law enforcement officers.