Two Moroccan women killed in border stampede

Two Moroccans were trampled to death and around 20 other people were injured today as a crowd pushed to cross into Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The cause of the border stampede was not immediately known, but it occurred when about 200 people tried to climb steep stairs near a bridge used daily by thousands of Moroccans who buy merchandise in Ceuta and resell it in Morocco.

Ceuta is on Morocco’s northern coast.

Two women died, and about 20 other people were hurt, eight of whom required hospital treatment.

The injured included four Spanish police officers, who were treated for slight injuries.

The bridge came into use in 2005, and Spanish police have been calling for it to be closed because of problems handling the large crowds that cross it.