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Eurotunnel suspends services after 'massive invasion' at Calais terminal Calais terminal 'invasion' halts Eurotunnel overnight
(about 2 hours later)
Eurotunnel services were suspended overnight on Friday after a “massive invasion” of more than 100 refugees and migrants in the French terminal. Eurotunnel services have resumed after being suspended overnight because of a “massive invasion” of more than 100 refugees and migrants in its French terminal.
A “large and co-ordinated” group stormed the tracks at Calais at around 12.30am local time, Eurotunnel said.A “large and co-ordinated” group stormed the tracks at Calais at around 12.30am local time, Eurotunnel said.
Several Channel Tunnel staff and two police officers were injured in the incident, the rail company added. Police are believed to have arrested up to 100 people. Related: Calais refugee camp conditions diabolical, says report
A spokesman said: “It’s a massive invasion and intrusion by a very large and co-ordinated group of migrants. They are being gathered up by the police authorities.” Several Channel tunnel staff and two police officers were injured during the incident, the rail company said. Police are believed to have arrested up to 100 people.
He added: “It’s clearly an organised attack when it comes in such a large number, there are over 100 in this one group. They arrived together and in a well-organised manner broke through the fences and all clearly knew where they were going. A Eurotunnel spokesman said: “It’s a massive invasion and intrusion by a very large and co-ordinated group of migrants. They are being gathered up by the police authorities.
“It’s clearly an organised attack when it comes in such a large number, there are over 100 in this one group. They arrived together and in a well-organised manner broke through the fences and all clearly knew where they were going.
“They ran through the terminal, knocking some staff to the ground and throwing stones at them. There are some minor injuries to staff and also two police officers. They were treated at the scene by paramedics.”“They ran through the terminal, knocking some staff to the ground and throwing stones at them. There are some minor injuries to staff and also two police officers. They were treated at the scene by paramedics.”
Services are not expected to resume until at least 10am UK time and passengers have been warned of lengthy delays. According to the Eurotunnel website, services resumed at 8.30am UK time and passengers on both sides of the channel were being told to expect delays of about 30 minutes.
British authorities were working with French police to clear the tracks on Saturday morning, but officials said it would be several hours before normal service resumed. British authorities had worked overnight with French police to clear the tracks
“It’s a very co-ordinated and well-managed process but it’s a very large group of people and it’s dark so it will have to be done very carefully,” the Eurotunnel spokesman added. . The Eurotunnel spokesman said nobody had been stuck on trains and overnight travellers had continued their journeys by ferry.
“While they are on the track we have, for safety reasons, to suspend the service. Once that’s done we will be able to restart. There’s nobody (stuck) on trains, there are a small number of passengers affected and customers have gone to the ferry port to continue their journeys.” Related: 'Fences won't put anyone off': migrants dismiss new Calais security crackdown
Thirteen migrants have died trying to reach Britain since the start of the crisis in June. An Eritrean man in his 20s was killed on Wednesday and is believed to have been hit by a freight train near the tunnel entrance at around 1am. Thirteen people have died trying to reach Britain since the start of the refugee crisis in June. An Eritrean man in his 20s was killed on Wednesday after he was believed to have been hit by a freight train near the tunnel entrance.
Early on Tuesday morning a 20-year-old Iraqi man was crushed to death after apparently sneaking on board a lorry to reach the UK. An HGV driver discovered the body in the back of his vehicle near Calais port as he inspected his load after he was forced to brake suddenly. Early on Tuesday morning a 20-year-old Iraqi man was crushed to death after apparently sneaking on board a lorry to reach the UK. The HGV driver found the body in the back of his vehicle near Calais port while inspecting his load after being forced to brake suddenly.
An estimated 5,000 migrants displaced from countries including Syria, Libya and Eritrea are believed to be camped in and around Calais. At its peak, the number of attempts to board lorries or trains was around 2,000 a night - but that has since fallen. An estimated 5,000 people displaced from countries including Syria, Libya and Eritrea are believed to be camped in and around Calais. At its peak, the number of attempts to board lorries or trains was around 2,000 a night, but that has since fallen.
A report about the camp known as the Jungle, home to about 3,000 people, said conditions there were diabolical, with cramped makeshift tents plagued by rats, water sources contaminated by faeces and inhabitants suffering from tuberculosis, scabies and post-traumatic stress.