Spain was scrambling Friday to contain a sudden border crisis after tens of thousands of people rushed into its north African territory, with dozens killed and political shockwaves spreading across Europe.The dramatic events were “a violation of Spain’s territorial sovereignty,” Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on a hurried visit to Ceuta, a tiny Mediterranean city at the tip of Africa that shares a border with Morocco.At least 34 migrants had died, said Juan Jesus Vivas, the president of the autonomous Spanish exclave.Spain’s Interior Ministry told NBC News some 50,000 people had entered Ceuta on Thursday from Morocco.
That’s more than half the city’s usual population.Around half that number had returned on Friday, the interior ministry said.The border crisis boiled over Thursday and continued on Friday with security forces clashing with migrants on the Moroccan side of the border.Antonio Sempere / APThe mass arrival by sea and land threatened a political crisis for Sanchez, a left-wing, pro-immigration leader who has clashed with President Donald Trump.Trump called the situation “terrible” on Friday.The migrant crossings also fueled rapid alarm across Europe, where the continent’s divisions over immigration were laid bare.France said it was increasing checks on its border with Spain, and Italy threatened to suspend Spain from the European Union’s internal open border scheme.Migrants swam around border barriers with Morocco to enter the Spanish territory.Jorge Guerrero / AFP via Getty ImagesThe rush was captured in images and videos that showed migrants swimming or floating on tubes from the Moroccan side on Thursday, and others breaking through a gate on land and running into the Spanish city.
Authorities on both sides of the Ceuta border appeared to be taking action to reinforce the fence separating Europe and Africa.Spain deployed its military along the coast and roads to control the crowds.
Most of those crossing appeared to be young me...