Skip to main content
BBC NEWS / AFRICA
Graphics VersionBBC Sport Home
News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |
20:03 GMT, Thursday, 1 January 2009

Migrant killed by Morocco police

African migrants in Tenerife, Spain (file image)

Police in Morocco have shot dead an African migrant who was among 80 people trying to force their way into the Spanish enclave of Melilla.

Security officials said the group had stormed the border post in a "particularly violent assault".

Melilla is a target for hopeful migrants aiming to make the journey on to Spain or other EU countries.

Numbers attempting the crossing have increased in recent months after border barriers were damaged by flooding.

Officials, quoted by Moroccan state news agency MAP said security forces fired warning shots to push back the crowd.

"One of the illegal Sub Saharan African migrants was wounded in this particularly violent assault and died as he was transported to hospital," said the statement.

A further 16 people were arrested by the police, but the rest managed to escape.

Both Melilla and another enclave, Ceuta, are claimed by both Morocco and Spain.

Spain has heavily fortified the border, but many Africans seeking a better life in Europe still attempt to break through.

Many are caught, while some drown while attempting to cross to mainland Spain by sea.




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:
People surge into flooded Melilla (27 Oct 08 |  Europe )
Migrant vessel sinks off Morocco (10 Oct 08 |  Africa )
Migrants die off Spanish coast (26 Aug 08 |  Europe )
Migrants die at Spanish enclave (03 Jul 06 |  Africa )
Spain reinforces enclave borders (22 Sep 05 |  Europe )
African migrant tales from Melilla (14 Oct 05 |  Africa )


SEARCH BBC NEWS: 

News Front Page | Africa | Americas | Asia-Pacific | Europe | Middle East | South Asia | UK | Business | Health | Science & Environment | Technology | Entertainment | Also in the news | Have Your Say |

NewsWatch | Notes | Contact us | About BBC News | Profiles | History

^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©