More than 20,000 migrants have crossed the border from Morocco into Spain, with unconfirmed reports indicating at least 18 dead, according to reports.
More than 20,000 migrants have crossed from Morocco into Spain, with reports indicating at least 18 dead, marking a sharp escalation of the ongoing migrant crisis. The scale of the crossing—the largest reported in a single day—surpasses earlier incidents that have strained Spanish border resources.
The Zioneer reported earlier today (Fri 09:32 Jerusalem) that Israeli media initially reported 18 migrants killed in an infiltration attempt into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Police later confirmed that 18 migrants died while attempting to reach Ceuta. At the same time, thousands of migrants were reported to have crossed overnight. In a separate development, The Zioneer reported at 11:21 Jerusalem that Spain had deployed troops along its southern coast after a mass crossing attempt that left three migrants dead, according to Israeli media.
The relationship between the two casualty figures—the 18 deaths reported by police and the three deaths linked to the army deployment—remains unclear. The current estimate of over 20,000 crossings, if verified, would represent a substantial increase from the thousands reported earlier. The reports have not yet been independently confirmed, and Spanish and Moroccan authorities have not issued official statements.
What remains open: The exact number of fatalities and the circumstances of the deaths; whether the 20,000 crossing figure is cumulative or a single wave; and the status of the army deployment in response to the ongoing surge.
6 developments
- DevelopingAbu Ali Express: Spanish police, soldiers not intervening in Ceuta as migrants mock authorities
- DevelopingMigrants throw stones at Spanish police patrol cars, reports say
- DevelopingVideos show Spain border gate still open, migrants flowing, bodies on ground
- DevelopingFormer Spanish police official claims Spain plans to regularize up to 6 million illegal immigrants
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