Europe's external border doesn't stop in southern Spain, but in Africa. Spain has two territories on Morocco's north coast. There, parallel fences, topped with razor wire, are meant to deter African migrants from getting a foot on European soil and then traveling north to France and other locations. But at Spain's enclave of Ceuta, the fence didn't stop 600 Africans. Al Goodman reports.

Victory, victory they shout. These sub-Saharan Africans have just reached Spanish - and European – soil. Achieving their dream. Six hundred made a coordinated assault at dawn this day, scaling - and even cutting through - the fences at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Morocco's north coast. Breaching one of Europe's external borders. The tall, twin fences, topped with razor wire, stretch for 8 kilometers or 5 miles around Ceuta. A deterrent meant to keep the African migrants out.

AL GOODMAN CEUTA, SPAIN "The assault here, so recent, the men haven't even been checked into the migrant center. The wounds still fresh, bleeding from their foreheads and their arms from going up and over the razor wire."

But the cuts and the blood seemed to be their badge of honor for getting a foothold in Europe. Medical personnel quickly arrived, and attended to the 130 injured migrants Spain's new Socialist government has vowed to do "everything possible" to remove the controversial razor wire. And the assault hasn't changed that position, says this senior Spanish official, who rushed to the migrant holding center.

JUAN HERNANDEZ AIDE TO SPAIN'S TOP CEUTA OFFICIAL "Eliminating the razor wire, yes. But only after other security measures are in place to stop these kinds of avalanches."

On the road, the migrants discarded protective clothing they wore against the razor wire. Heavy pullovers, sturdy footwear, and gloves. The migrants used new tactics this time, officials said, like electric saws to cut holes in the fences. Some even threw quicklime, burning the skin of Spanish Civil Guards. Fifteen guards were injured.

ALFONSO CRUZADO SPANISH CIVIL GUARD "We are looking at this, above all, to see if there was a change in the level of violence used by the migrants trying to get in."

Spanish army troops came to set up tents for the 600 newest Africans, because Ceuta's migrant center was already full. By far, most of the migrant Africans reaching Spain this year have come in clandestine boats. But the assault in Ceuta tests the limits of fence security, adding more fuel to Europe's heated debate over immigration. Many of these migrants want to reach France, as soon as possible. Al Goodman, CGTN, Ceuta, Spain.