LONDON

Spanish authorities have been called to launch an investigation after a police boat appeared to be ramming into a boat carrying three people to stop them in Melilla, an autonomous Spanish city on the North African coast.

A video that went viral on social media showed a Civil Guard boat running over a vessel carrying migrants attempting to enter Spanish territory.


The incident took place on Sunday and the police boat knocked at least one person out of the dinghy bound for Spain, sparking anger from human rights organizations.

Speaking to the media, Spanish police said nobody had been injured, adding that those on the vessel had been trying to enter Spain illegally.

The Moroccan Association for Human Rights defined the incident as "violent and dangerous" and that a source had told them that the people onboard were safe and had been arrested.

The NGO said that no probe has been launched to date, calling on Spanish authorities to “take responsibility" for opening an investigation, according to the Guardian newspaper.

Separately, the Melilla-based NGO Solidary Wheels on Tuesday also called on Spain to open an investigation.

Some Left-wing politicians in Spain also criticized the incident, calling on Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to address in this regard.

"What we have seen in Melilla is a disgrace and totally unacceptable," said Aina Vidal, a spokesperson for the leftwing alliance Sumar.