POLICE USE FORCE TO DISPERSE GROUP OF MIGRANTS

MADRID, SEPTEMBER 18 /SRNA/ - Spanish police had to use force to disperse a group of migrants who attempted to break through a police cordon and reach a new migrant reception center at the port in Ceuta, news agency Europa Press reported.

The report said that the migrants were among those being guarded in groups by police officers at a temporary accommodation facility, RIA Novosti reported.

Spanish riot police launched an operation to remove thousands of migrants from beaches in the North African enclave of Ceuta and relocate some of them to temporary accommodation.

The operation began early this morning and involved riot police and Spanish military personnel.

Law enforcement officials said they had been forced to use rubber bullets and batons following a violent reaction by some migrants to police instructions that they had to leave the beach.

The authorities have built a new temporary accommodation facility inside the port in the enclave, with a capacity of 1,700 people.

Spanish authorities estimate that 10,000 migrants are still in the small territory. More than 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into the enclave at the end of July during the largest influx at the border to date, although most subsequently left Ceuta.