Wave after wave followed, some pouring across the land border with Morocco. By May 19, their “occupation”, carried out by more than 8000 “combatants”, was complete.
The dreadful character of the occupying force soon showed: Spanish territory was being “violated” by thousands of young “warriors”, “armed” with mobile phones and led by an elite unit in board shorts. Most were Moroccan but accompanied by a regiment of “fearsome Sub-Saharans”. Some commando units were camouflaged as “families”.
The “troops” spread out, skilfully applying guerrilla tactics to avoid arrest. A few infiltrated shops, others seized overcrowded migrant reception centres, while most set up command posts in parks.