HIBAPRESS – Mohamed Zariouh
The occupied city of Melilla witnessed a notable security event after a specialized explosives disposal team belonging to the diving unit of the Spanish Cadiz province managed to extract 19 naval bombs and a number of remnants of old ammunition from the seabed, at a depth of about 15 meters.
The Spanish maritime police reported that the operation was carried out in complex conditions that required high precision and tight coordination between various security agencies. According to what was announced by the Spanish Civil Guard, the specialized diving unit GEAS had detected unusual metallic objects in the vicinity of the port of occupied Melilla, and after examination, it turned out that they were war explosives dating back decades. They were handled with advanced technical means to reduce the chances of explosion during their extraction, amid strict security measures to ensure the safety of the implementing team. The authorities explained that those bombs, despite remaining for many years in the depths of the sea, still retain their explosive effectiveness, making them a real source of danger. They also confirmed that their old operating mechanisms may be prone to malfunction or explosion upon any contact or sudden movement, which necessitated dealing with them in a precise and highly professional manner. On the Moroccan side, a state of anticipation and caution spread, especially in the Nador region near the area, amid fears that the joint sea currents would lead to the transfer of some shrapnel or remnants of ammunition to the Moroccan coasts. Local activists have called for coordination between Rabat and Madrid to avoid any potential environmental or security risks. This incident brings to the forefront the issue of maritime security in the Mediterranean basin, and highlights the need for continuous monitoring of underwater activities. As the Spanish authorities continue to survey and search for other potential explosives, the concern remains that the incident will turn into a regional file that affects the stability and security of the western coasts of the Mediterranean.
