Melilla resident gave sub-Saharan immigrants refuge

FORMER mayor of Melilla, Mustafa Aberchan has explained why he gave refuge to about 40 sub-Saharan migrants who the police were trying to detain.

At a news conference, Aberchan, a physician and leader of the opposition Melilla Coalition, said he decided to give them refuge because some of them were injured after they had jumped the border fence in an effort to reach Spanish territory. At least six were bleeding and others appeared to be having trouble breathing, he said.

A colleague had told Aberchan about the situation near his home, but when he tried to reach his house a police officer blocked his way telling him “you have no business here,” he later explained.

“The security forces had taken over my street and there was a group of about 40 migrants that I allowed to enter my home,” he said. His actions prevented the law enforcement authorities from detaining them.

Aberchan said that the police were “using violence” to try to round them up. But in the end the migrants left his home and were taken to the CETI temporary detention centre in Melilla.

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