A young migrant who crossed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta during this week's mass border breach has said he went there "for fun".
Around 60,000 migrants from Morocco entered Ceuta between Thursday and Friday morning, in scenes that sparked a humanitarian crisis and tensions with other EU countries. Madrid's government said nearly all of those who crossed have since returned to Morocco.
Death toll and rescue effort
Local officials said 86 people died in the border surge, with the figure expected to rise as specialist divers search the coastline. Many of those who made the crossing said they had hoped to find better work opportunities in Spain but were heading back because of the mayhem.
"I just go here for fun"
In an interview with GB News, one young migrant said: "I don't want anything from here... Just for fun."
When a reporter asked if he did not want to stay in the EU, he replied: "I don't want anything from this place. I am just chilling. I just go here for fun (sic)."
Border barrier and political response
Spain installed a 500-metre-long barrier along its sea border between Ceuta and Morocco on Saturday, after most of those who arrived during the surge came by sea. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the incident as "a violation of Spain's territorial integrity" and criticised the "selfish, polarising and unlawful reaction" from some EU member states.
Spain has also deployed armed forces and additional police to Ceuta following the crossings.
EU emergency measures
Italy temporarily suspended its open-border Schengen agreement with Spain, reimposing border controls for air and sea. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the scenes "shocking" and warned that "uncontrolled illegal migration poses a concrete threat to the security of Europe's borders".
France tightened its border checks with Spain. EU ministers will hold emergency talks on Tuesday after 22 member states signed a joint letter calling for a coordinated response to the situation in Ceuta.
Court ruling linked to surge
Authorities in the territory and Madrid linked the surge to a recent Spanish Supreme Court ruling that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported, unlike those who cross by land or climb the border fence. Mr Sánchez said migrant smugglers had misinterpreted the ruling.
