Hundreds of migrants enter Spain from Morocco, dozens injured

Hundreds of migrants stormed into Spain's North African territory of Ceuta from Morocco early on Friday, the emergency services and police said, adding that some were injured in the process.

"The Civil Guard at Ceuta estimates that 500 people could have succeeded in entering the town," the emergency services said on Twitter.

The emergency services said on Twitter that the Spanish Red Cross extended assistance to some 400 people.

Three Civil Guard agents and two migrants were sent to the hospital for treatment as a result of the clashes at the Tarajal area of the fence, a spokesperson said, while more than 30 migrants were treated at a migrant center for bone fractures and other injuries.

At least 10 members of the Moroccan armed forces were also injured.

In video filmed by Faro TV Ceuta, some of the migrants can be seen with blood on their faces and bruises but mostly celebrating the arrival in Spanish territory. Some wrapped themselves with Spanish and European flags and screamed "Freedom, freedom!"

Hundreds of sub-Saharan African migrants living illegally in Morocco regularly attempt to enter Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's other North African enclave also claimed by Morocco, in hope of getting into Europe. Most are fleeing poverty, violence or both.

They get there by climbing the border fence, swimming along the coast or by hiding in vehicles.

The last such attempt took place on New Year's Day when more than 1,000 migrants tried to jump a high double fence between Morocco and Ceuta in a violent assault that saw one officer lose an eye.

The enclave has been ringed by a double wire fence that is eight kilometres long. The six-metre high fence also has rolls of barbed wire.