Spain Ceuta: Migrants found hidden in car and suitcase Published duration 2 January 2017 Related Topics Europe migrant crisis

image copyright EPA image caption Spanish police in Ceuta released this photo on Sunday

Police have detained two Moroccans who tried to smuggle migrants into Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta - two hidden in a car and one in a suitcase.

When police checked a car on Monday one person was found hidden in the dashboard and another in the hollowed-out back seat.

The man and woman, thought to be Guineans, received first aid as they had had little air to breathe.

Separately, a young African man was found hidden in a woman's suitcase.

That incident happened on 30 December and again the man - believed to be from Gabon - required urgent medical attention.

A 22-year-old Moroccan woman had tried to smuggle him into Ceuta, but customs officers ordered her to open the case, which was tied to a trolley.

image copyright EPA image caption A migrant was found inside the car's dashboard (Spanish Civil Guard photo)

image copyright EPA image caption The car's back seat was hollowed out to hide another migrant

The incidents coincided with a mass attempt by sub-Saharan Africans to storm the 6m (20ft) border fence separating Ceuta from Morocco.

Fifty Moroccan and five Spanish border guards were injured when 1,100 migrants tried to get over the fence on Sunday.

None managed to get through, but two people were injured scaling the fence and were taken to hospital in Ceuta. One guard lost an eye, officials said.

media caption Footage shows migrants lined up across the top of the fence

A similar assault on 9 December involved more than 400 African migrants.

There have been many such attempts by sub-Saharan Africans living illegally in Morocco, who desperately want to reach Europe. Melilla - Spain's other North African enclave - is similarly targeted by migrants.

The enclaves are Europe's only land borders in Africa.