Spain deploys military to its border after 6,000 migrants arrive by sea

Spanish military take positions as people from Morocco arrive in Ceuta (AP/Javier Fergo)

Spain has deployed its military to the Moroccan border after thousands of Moroccans took advantage of their government’s relaxed border controls to swim or paddle in inflatable boats onto European soil.

Live footage on Spain’s public broadcaster TVE showed dramatic scenes of soldiers carrying children in their arms and Red Cross personnel helping migrants who were emerging from the water exhausted and cold.