Thread by @Telegraph

🔴 Spain's defence minister has accused Morocco of "aggression" and "blackmail" after more than 8,000 migrants poured into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta this week largely unimpeded

telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…

➡️Over 8,000 people, a record, crossed into Ceuta by swimming or on small inflatable boats.

The majority were Moroccans, including families with small children

🔴 One boy with plastic bottles tied to himself arrived at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta after swimming across the border.

Footage showed soldiers talking to the visibly distressed boy from the shore before he ran onto El Tarajal beach and attempted to scale a wall of rocks

Spain's government is pleading with mainland regions to relieve crammed reception centres for minors, which are currently filled with some 1,500 children and teenagers

Around 5,600 migrants had already been sent back according to the Spanish government, which said there were no new entries on Wednesday as anyone who reached Ceuta's beach was immediately sent back

➡️The influx comes against the backdrop of increased tensions with Morocco over Spain's decision to provide medical treatment for Brahim Ghali, the leader of the head of the Western Sahara independence movement, who has been seriously ill with Covid-19

🔴Analysts said it was clear Morocco had turned a blind eye to the human tide entering Ceuta in order to put diplomatic pressure on Spain to recognise its sovereignty over Western Sahara.

The EU backed Spain, saying it would not be "intimidated" by Moroccan "blackmail"

🇪🇸However, it appears Spain has in fact buckled to the pressure, with Madrid now pushing ahead with a prosecution of Mr Ghali for alleged war crimes.

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telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/05/2…