Thursday, December 17, 2015
Hundreds of migrants attempted to enter the Channel Tunnel
Hundreds of migrants have attempted this afternoon to enter the Channel Tunnel connecting France to Britain, in the region of Calais, and required the mobilization of a large number of police officers to prevent them.
"We found the presence 800-1000 immigrants" in the tunnel area, reported AFP local officials. This figure marked "unprecedented" for one day a police source.
"Near the entrance of the tunnel many immigrants tried in every way to slow traffic to climb into trucks," added the same source. A photojournalist agency said he saw some to rip saws with covers of vehicles and climbing on their roofs.
"The security forces deployed in point accepted objects rain and used tear gas," said the prefecture assuring that the situation is now under control.
About 4,500 immigrants, mainly from Afghanistan and countries in Eastern Africa and the Middle East live in miserable conditions in the "Jungle", a slum that is an hour walk from the center of Calais. Eighteen people have been killed since early June in an attempt to reach Britain.
Hundreds of migrants attempted to enter the Channel Tunnel
Hundreds of migrants have attempted this afternoon to enter the Channel Tunnel connecting France to Britain, in the region of Calais, and required the mobilization of a large number of police officers to prevent them.
"We found the presence 800-1000 immigrants" in the tunnel area, reported AFP local officials. This figure marked "unprecedented" for one day a police source.
"Near the entrance of the tunnel many immigrants tried in every way to slow traffic to climb into trucks," added the same source. A photojournalist agency said he saw some to rip saws with covers of vehicles and climbing on their roofs.
"The security forces deployed in point accepted objects rain and used tear gas," said the prefecture assuring that the situation is now under control.
About 4,500 immigrants, mainly from Afghanistan and countries in Eastern Africa and the Middle East live in miserable conditions in the "Jungle", a slum that is an hour walk from the center of Calais. Eighteen people have been killed since early June in an attempt to reach Britain.