Sub-Saharan immigrants storm Melilla frontier fence

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Around 1,000 would-be sub-Saharan immigrants stormed the frontier between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla on early Wednesday morning.

Around 400 immigrants are estimated to have successfully entered the Spanish territory on the coast of North Africa in the latest of a string of assaults on the frontier wire during 2014.

Wednesday's attempt to cross into Spain happened at around 5.30 a.m. close to the Barrio Chino frontier post, which is where previous unsuccessful attempts to cross the border had recently taken place.

President of the city of Melilla Juan Jose Imbroda confirmed on Spanish radio that part of the frontier fence, which consists of three different obstacles, had been pulled down, adding that despite the presence of both Spanish and Moroccan security forces the immigrants were "difficult to stop."

The approximately 400 immigrants who managed to cross into Spanish territory then made their way to the Temporary Immigrant Accommodation Center (CETI) in the center of the town.

The CETI was designed to host around 500 immigrants, but due to the massive numbers of sub-Saharans forcing their way into Melilla in recent months, it is currently operating at over four times its capacity.

After Wednesday's events, it is estimated the around 2,300 immigrants will now be at the center, placing a massive strain on resources.

This is the latest of a series of assaults on the frontier between Melilla and Morocco. The last major assault saw around 500 immigrants enter Melilla on March 18, but with tens of thousands of sub-Saharans estimated to be camped in the hills surrounding the town, more attempts to cross the wire into Europe can be expected. Endi

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