Spain plans 500-metre sea barrier after Ceuta migrant surge kills 67

Spain has announced a 500-metre-long containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco after between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants breached the frontier earlier this week. The Spanish government said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to 67, including people who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede while trying to cross a breakwater barrier.

Spain's interior ministry said most of those who entered Ceuta had already returned to Morocco. On Saturday morning, a handful of exhausted migrants who swam to Ceuta's urban Tarajal beach were met by soldiers, who escorted them back across the border.

Speaking to journalists in Ceuta, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said, "We are relentless against those who break the law." Asked how such a large border breach could happen despite heavy security on both sides, and whether Morocco posed a threat to Ceuta, he defended the government in Rabat. "The events require an evaluation by Spain and Morocco," he said, adding that cooperation with its neighbours allowed Spain "to revert the situation in 24 hours." He also said, "Morocco is not a threat to Ceuta, or to the rest of Spain. It is a reliable partner."

After days of chaos and streets packed with people hoping for a better life in Spain, Ceuta saw an uneasy calm on Saturday. Security in the autonomous city of 84,000 people remained affected. "Life in this city has been disrupted as a result of the border incident," said Ceuta President Juan Jess Vivas. "The return of people has begun satisfactorily but the process must be completed," he said. "The city has not yet returned to normal."

In the Moroccan city of Tangier, about 75 kilometres west of Ceuta, the main railway station was crowded with people returning from Ceuta or the border. Some slept on the ground, exhausted, while passersby watched from a distance. "I tried to cross, but I failed. I stayed near the border with Ceuta for two days, but I couldn't find anything to eat," said Abdalah, an aspiring migrant who asked that his last name not be published out of fear of retaliation for trying to cross illegally.

On the road to the Moroccan town of Fnideq, which borders Ceuta, many migrants were seen walking towards the fence, some barefoot and apparently hoping to try again. Taxi drivers and bus operators were refusing to take them, fearing retaliation from the authorities. Police officers were deployed along the road, stopping and checking every vehicle heading towards Fnideq.

Some who made it to Ceuta were still determined to stay. Among them was 23-year-old Moroccan Mohamed Hatri, who said, "They've closed everything down so that we can't buy anything to eat, to force us to return to our country." He added, "But even if they close it down we're round to stay here, whether we're hungry or not." Overall, the situation in and around Ceuta remained tense, with returns under way, fresh attempts to cross still being made, and local life yet to return to normal.

With PTI Inputs

Spain has announced a 500-metre-long containment barrier on the sea border between its North African territory of Ceuta and neighbouring Morocco after between 50,000 and 60,000 migrants breached the frontier earlier this week. The Spanish government said on Saturday that the death toll had risen to 67, including people who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede while trying to cross a breakwater barrier.

Spain's interior ministry said most of those who entered Ceuta had already returned to Morocco. On Saturday morning, a handful of exhausted migrants who swam to Ceuta's urban Tarajal beach were met by soldiers, who escorted them back across the border.

Speaking to journalists in Ceuta, Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said, "We are relentless against those who break the law." Asked how such a large border breach could happen despite heavy security on both sides, and whether Morocco posed a threat to Ceuta, he defended the government in Rabat. "The events require an evaluation by Spain and Morocco," he said, adding that cooperation with its neighbours allowed Spain "to revert the situation in 24 hours." He also said, "Morocco is not a threat to Ceuta, or to the rest of Spain. It is a reliable partner."

After days of chaos and streets packed with people hoping for a better life in Spain, Ceuta saw an uneasy calm on Saturday. Security in the autonomous city of 84,000 people remained affected. "Life in this city has been disrupted as a result of the border incident," said Ceuta President Juan Jess Vivas. "The return of people has begun satisfactorily but the process must be completed," he said. "The city has not yet returned to normal."

In the Moroccan city of Tangier, about 75 kilometres west of Ceuta, the main railway station was crowded with people returning from Ceuta or the border. Some slept on the ground, exhausted, while passersby watched from a distance. "I tried to cross, but I failed. I stayed near the border with Ceuta for two days, but I couldn't find anything to eat," said Abdalah, an aspiring migrant who asked that his last name not be published out of fear of retaliation for trying to cross illegally.

On the road to the Moroccan town of Fnideq, which borders Ceuta, many migrants were seen walking towards the fence, some barefoot and apparently hoping to try again. Taxi drivers and bus operators were refusing to take them, fearing retaliation from the authorities. Police officers were deployed along the road, stopping and checking every vehicle heading towards Fnideq.

Some who made it to Ceuta were still determined to stay. Among them was 23-year-old Moroccan Mohamed Hatri, who said, "They've closed everything down so that we can't buy anything to eat, to force us to return to our country." He added, "But even if they close it down we're round to stay here, whether we're hungry or not." Overall, the situation in and around Ceuta remained tense, with returns under way, fresh attempts to cross still being made, and local life yet to return to normal.

With PTI Inputs