Madrid: Officials say around 1,000 migrants of sub-Saharan origin attempted to storm Spain`s three-tier barbed-wire border fence separating its North African enclave of Melilla from Morocco, but failed in their bid to enter Europe.
A regional government statement said fewer than 10 persons managed to overcome the first barrier in today`s charge. They were taken away by Moroccan police.
The statement says Spain`s border guards detected the charge in an area known as "Villa Pilar" and deployed a helicopter to oversee operations.
Spain and Morocco stepped up border vigilance in February after 15 migrants drowned trying to reach Ceuta. The border was recently strengthened with a new type of mesh barrier.