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Melilla migrant rush: Spain's public prosecutors open investigation into migrant deaths

Spain's public prosecutors into the deadly migrant rush on the enclave of Melilla. total of 23 migrants were killed in the tragedy. The investigation was launched by Spain's public prosecutors a few hours before the United Nations condemned the incident.

TN World Desk

Updated Jun 29, 2022, 06:54 IST

Migrants climb the fences separating the Spanish enclave of Melilla from Morocco in Melilla, Spain on Friday, June 24, 2022

Photo : AP

Madrid: Spain's public prosecutors under the direction of the attorney general launched an investigation into the deadly migrant rush on the enclave of Melilla from Morocco in which 23 people reportedly died. The incident took place on Friday when 2,000 mostly sub-Saharan African migrants tried to cross the border separating Spain's Melilla enclave from Morocco.

The investigation was launched by Spain's public prosecutors a few hours before the United Nations condemned the incident and blamed both Moroccon and Spanish authorities for using "excessive force". The UN also demanded a probe into the incident.

As per the Moroccon authorities, 140 policemen were also injured in the tragedy. Spanish media showed images of wounded migrants lying on the streets. the Spanish prosecutors' office, in a statement, said that the decision to probe the incident was taken by Attorney General Dolores Delgado to find out what happened at the Melilla border.

Also Read: Melilla migrant rush death toll rises to 23 after 5 more people succumb to injuries

On Tuesday, the United Nations' rights office had called for an independent investigation, reported AFP. As per Melilla authorities, at least 500 people managed to enter the border control area after cutting a fence.

United Nations' rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said that it was not clear as to how migrants died, but the office had received reports of "migrants beaten with batons, kicked and attacked with stones by Moroccan officials when they tried to cross the barbed wire. Notably, Spain's two tiny North African enclaves, Melilla and Ceuta, have the EU's only land borders with Africa.

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