Spain installs floating barrier near Moroccan border amid migrant crisis - after 60,000 storm into Ceuta

According to Spanish authorities, about 60,000 mainly young men had crossed into Ceuta by land and sea from Thursday in an unprecedented surge at one of the European Union's only land borders with Africa.

More than 48,000 of them returned to Morocco within 48 hours, Spain said.

In response to the mass rush that killed at least 67, police began installing a 500-metre (1,640-foot) floating barrier.

Earlier today, Andy Burnham said he'd offered the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez whatever help the UK could provide.

22 EU leaders have criticised Spain's migration policies, including the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who temporarily suspended the Schengen free-movement agreement for air and sea travel from Spain.

Donald Trump described the chaotic scenes as an "invasion" and a "catastrophe".

Civil Guard police started laying the new barrier early in the morning at around 7:50am on the Tarajal breakwater, one ​of the main points used by people trying to enter the Spanish territory, the government said in a statement.

The ⁠pneumatic barrier, alongside a line of anchored naval buoys, is designed to stand 30 to 70 centimetres (12 to 28 inches) above water and extend as much as ​one metre below the surface,

A channel between the barriers will allow Civil Guard vessels to patrol the area.

Groups of men were filmed throwing rocks at police cars and active aggressively towards police.

Meanwhile, Military were forced to use tear gas as thousands surged across the border.

Residents feared for their safety as migrants reportedly broke into homes with hammers and forced their way inside.

Hundreds even converged on a supermarket, where staff were forced to let a few men through a huge gate at a time.

In Fnideq, a Moroccan town just beyond the Ceuta border, Moroccan authorities aimed water cannons at migrants very late Thursday in an attempt to deter them from crossing.

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Mr Sanchez visited Ceuta on Friday, describing the border breach as “a violation of Spain’s territorial integrity”.

He also criticised the reaction of some other European Union leaders to the events, saying calls for Spain to be suspended from the EU’s borderless Schengen zone were “driven by prejudice, fake news, ignorance, or political interest”.

Spanish interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, said on Saturday that the country is “relentless against those who break the law”.

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, visited the territory on Saturday and said he had spoken to migrants there.

“I have spoken to a number of them who made it quite clear they intend to make it to Britain,” he said.

He said the migrants had been looting shops and homes as well as "terrorising" local residents.

He added they caused "enormous chaos".

Ursula Von Der Leyen posted online: "The images coming from Ceuta are unacceptable.

"We cannot allow anyone to come to our Union without abiding by our rules.

"Dangerous crossings must stop immediately. Smuggling networks must be dismantled. And returns must be swift, as our rules allow."Speakin