Spain says migrants leaving Ceuta after mass influx in which 67 died

Spain’s overseas curate maintains ‘the integrity of the Schengen country is perfectly guaranteed’.

Spain says “virtually all” of the estimated 60,000 migrants who stormed its North African enclave of Ceuta by onshore and oversea successful caller days person already near again voluntarily.

The fig of radical who had died trying to participate Ceuta was raised to astatine slightest 67 connected Saturday, Spanish officials said, adding determination could beryllium further casualties connected the Moroccan broadside of the border. Some of the confirmed dormant had drowned, and ⁠some were crushed portion trying to ascent the breakwater that holds the borderline fence.

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“Virtually each those who entered Ceuta person present returned to Morocco,” Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albares, wrote connected X connected Friday night.

The wide influx of migrants had dismayed European Union governments, and peculiarly those successful the Schengen country – 29 countries that person abolished borderline controls for question betwixt them.

European Union main Ursula von der Leyen connected Friday described the images from Ceuta arsenic “unacceptable”, portion French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said France would tighten its borders with Spain.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni threatened to suspend Italy’s open-border Schengen statement with Spain “to support our borders and guarantee the information of our citizens”, though Italy does not stock a borderline with Spain.

Spain’s Interior Ministry said astir 50,000 radical had crossed the borderline since Thursday morning, and estimated that 48,300 had returned by 6pm (16:00 GMT) connected Friday. Juan Jesus Vivas, caput of Ceuta’s section government, said arsenic galore arsenic 60,000 radical had pushed crossed implicit the past mates of days.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who travelled to Ceuta connected Friday, said the wide crossing represented “a usurpation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty”.

Spain announced it was installing a containment obstruction on the breakwater obstruction into the sea.

Moroccan constabulary successful riot cogwheel utilized teardrop state and h2o cannon trucks astatine the enclave’s borderline connected Friday nighttime to disperse radical gathered adjacent the fences and propulsion them back.

“Honestly, I don’t adjacent cognize wherefore I came, and present I’m going back,” a young Moroccan man, who said helium was from Tangier, told Reuters. “I haven’t eaten since luncheon yesterday, adjacent though I brought immoderate wealth with maine … What we’re doing is neither bully nor enjoyable.”

Ceuta, unneurotic with Melilla – different autonomous ‌Spanish metropolis successful North Africa – represents the European Union’s lone onshore borderline with Africa. Both cities often acquisition surges successful attempted crossings by radical seeking to migrate to Europe.

To scope Ceuta, migrants often aquatics from the Moroccan municipality of Fnideq, covering astir 5km (3 miles) to scope Spanish territory. Others effort the crossing from the adjacent municipality of Belyounech, wherever the region is shorter.

Ceuta authorities linked the surge successful attempted crossings to a Spanish Supreme Court ruling earlier this period that prevented authorities from instantly returning migrants who get by sea. The ruling does not use to migrants who participate Spain by land, including by climbing implicit the borderline fence.

Sanchez said connected Friday that the influx of migrants was caused by mafias spreading rumours astir this tribunal ruling. But activists successful Morocco expressed uncertainty that the ruling was down the surge, arguing astir migrants would person been unaware of specified ineligible decisions.

Although the crossing appeared blocked aboriginal connected Friday, galore migrants inactive moved on the coast, seeking routes astir the fence.

“I was late,” said Brahim, 32, who had arrived from Tangier hoping to transverse done the gate, but recovered it efficaciously shut.