2022 Melilla incident
| Date | 25 June 2022 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Melilla border fence |
| Location | Melilla, Morocco-Spain border |
| Deaths | At least 18 migrants |
| Non-fatal injuries |
|
On 25 June 2022, an incident occurred after a large group of primarily Sub-Saharan African migrants tried to cross a fence in the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco. At least 23 people died.
The incident happened in the morning when around 2,000 migrants crossing from Morocco tried to attack and break through the Melilla border fence. Security forces from both nations arrived to disperse the crowd but resulted in violent fighting with the migrants lasting for two hours. Spanish and Moroccan officials said that their border guards had been assaulted with weapons by migrants and had to fight back in self-defence.[1] According to authorities fleeing migrants trampled over each other causing a human stampede and killing several people.[2] Several other migrants fell from the fence onto the ground.[3] At least 18 migrants were killed, five of whom died during the crossing attempt and thirteen who died from their injuries in the hospital.[4] Morocco said that at least 63 other migrants sustained injuries and that 140 Moroccan officers had been wounded, five seriously,[1] and 49 Spanish Civil Guards were lightly injured.[4] The Moroccan Association for Human Rights said that 29 migrants had been killed,[1] while 133 people managed to cross the fence.[3]
Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez said that the incident was a "well-organized, violent assault" by organized crime groups and thanked Spanish and Moroccan security forces for their actions.[3]
References
- ^ a b c Reuters (2022-06-25). "Images show motionless, bleeding migrants at Melilla border". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Rabat, Agence France-Presse in (2022-06-25). "Eighteen killed as hundreds try to cross into Spain's Melilla enclave". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ a b c "Several migrants die in mass attempt to enter Spain's enclave Melilla in Morocco". France 24. 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ a b News, A. B. C. "Morocco: 18 migrants dead in stampede to enter Melilla". ABC News. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
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