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Spanish border crisis as riot erupts with cars on fire after thousands of migrants storm Melilla

Fires have broken out on the border between Morocco and a Spanish territory in north Africa after clashed erupted with police when migrants stormed the border

[Several fires caused by arson are being reported in Beni-Enzar]

Several fires caused by arson are being reported in Beni-Enzar(Image: X)

Several fires are being reported in a Moroccan port town neighbouring a Spanish territory as riots broke out. The blazes are reported to be in Morocco's Beni-Enzar town, in the area near the border with the Spanish autonomous city of Melilla.

The fires have are understood to have started amid violent clashes after thousands of migrants stormed a border between the two countries on Thursday, July 30. Moroccan nationals stormed a Spanish territory, with videos and images circulating on social media show crowds of people walking around the breakwaters at an urban beach near a border checkpoint of Ceuta with Morocco.

Footage also showed vehicles on fire in Moroccan territory. El Faro de Melilla news outlet is reporting that the fires are a result of arson.

[Vehicles are on fire in Beni-Enzar]

Vehicles are on fire in Beni-Enzar(Image: X)

The government of Ceuta - also a Spanish territory - said on Thursday, July 30 that between 1,500 and 2,000 people had entered in the last 10 days. It is understood that hundreds more were estimated to have arrived on Thursday.

Ceuta and Melilla are located on the northern shores of the Mediterranean coast at the tip of Africa. Both autonomous cities belong to Spain and share the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

Morocco does not officially recognize Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish territory and often refers to them as occupied lands.

Rachid Sbihi, head of the association that represents Spain's Civil Guard officers who police the border in Ceuta, said: "The situation is absolute chaos.

"It's not possible to give precise numbers, but there are thousands of migrants crossing."

He added that the border had "totally collapsed."

[People cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta]

People cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta(Image: AP Photo/Antonio Sempere)

Local authorities in Ceuta have asked the central government in Madrid for reinforcements to manage a border crisis, but Spain's Interior Ministry has rejected calls to declare a national emergency and said the measure does not cover migration crises.

It later announced that the armed forces will send 60 troops to reinforce the border.

The escalation at the frontier between Spain and Morocco comes after a surge in migrants attempting to reach the small exclave, mainly by swimming, on Wednesday.

At least 17 people have died while trying to swim into Ceuta, according to police sources.

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