Morocco Arrests 50 After Mass Attempt to Enter Spain's Melilla

RABAT, Aug 1: Violent clashes broke out on Saturday between Moroccan security forces and hundreds of migrants attempting to cross into the Spanish-administered enclave of Melilla, leaving several people injured and prompting authorities to arrest at least 50 individuals.

Videos shared by activists on social media and Moroccan media outlets showed confrontations as large groups attempted to force their way through the border crossing separating the Moroccan town of Beni Ansar from Melilla.

According to Moroccan news website Hibapress, the unrest followed a coordinated mass attempt to storm the border, resulting in injuries among both security personnel and migrants. Authorities subsequently detained 50 people in connection with the incident.

The Beni Ansar border crossing remained closed for a second consecutive day as officials sought to contain repeated mass crossing attempts. The closure disrupted travel for thousands of passengers, including members of the Moroccan diaspora returning home from abroad.

The latest violence comes amid an escalating migration crisis along Spain's North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.

Spanish authorities said some migrants died while attempting to swim to Ceuta, while others were killed in a stampede near the border fence during recent crossing attempts.

The number of bodies recovered on the Spanish side of the border has risen to 57, with search and recovery operations continuing amid fears that additional victims remain missing.

Spain's Interior Ministry said approximately 48,300 people had returned to Morocco by 1600 GMT on Friday, out of an estimated 60,000 who had entered Ceuta in recent days, according to the head of the enclave's regional government.

Over the past several days, tens of thousands of Moroccans have gathered near the border barriers separating Morocco from Ceuta and Melilla in an effort to enter the Spanish territories and continue onward to Europe through irregular migration routes.

Ceuta and Melilla, located on Morocco's northern coast, are Spanish-administered enclaves and represent the European Union's only land borders with the African continent.