World

African migrants stay perched on border fence after failed bid to enter Spanish enclave

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Sub-Saharan migrants climb over a metallic fence that divides Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on Friday March 28, 2014. Officials said several hundred African migrants tried to cross barbed-wire border fences to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco but most were turned back by security forces from both sides. An Interior Ministry spokesman in Melilla said the migrants attempted to scale the fences several times early Friday and a handful managed to get across. Thousands of migrants seeking a better life in Europe are living illegally in Morocco, hoping they can enter Melilla and Spain's other north African coastal enclave, Ceuta. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios) (The Associated Press)

Sub-Saharan migrants encourage others migrants climbing over a metallic fence that divides Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on Friday March. 28, 2014. Officials say several hundred African migrants tried to cross barbed-wire border fences to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco but most were turned back by security forces from both sides. An Interior Ministry spokesman in Melilla said the migrants attempted to scale the fences several times early Friday and a handful managed to get across. Thousands of migrants seeking a better life in Europe are living illegally in Morocco, hoping they can enter Melilla and Spain's other north African coastal enclave, Ceuta. (AP Photo/ Santi Palacios) (The Associated Press)

Sub-Saharan migrants climb over a metallic fence that divides Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on Friday March 28, 2014. Officials said several hundred African migrants tried to cross barbed-wire border fences to enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco but most were turned back by security forces from both sides. An Interior Ministry spokesman in Melilla said the migrants attempted to scale the fences several times early Friday and a handful managed to get across. Thousands of migrants seeking a better life in Europe are living illegally in Morocco, hoping they can enter Melilla and Spain's other north African coastal enclave, Ceuta. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios) (The Associated Press)

Spanish and Moroccan police have thwarted a fresh attempt by dozens of African migrants to try to scale border fences and enter the Spanish enclave of Melilla.

Some 25 migrants remained atop the fences hours after the attempted crossing began at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) Thursday while Spanish police stood guard nearby.

Two migrants clung to the top of a lamp post by the fences.

Thousands of sub-Saharan migrants seeking a better life in Europe live illegally in Morocco and regularly try to enter Melilla in the hope of later making it to mainland Spain.

Morocco and Spain have stepped up border vigilance since Feb. 6, when 15 migrants drowned trying to enter Spain's other north African coastal enclave, Ceuta.