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Refugee crisis: Hundreds of migrants storm Calais motorway attempting to board lorries heading to the UK Refugee crisis: Hundreds of migrants storm Calais motorway attempting to board lorries heading to the UK
(about 11 hours later)
Hundreds of refugees and migrants have stormed a motorway leading to the port at Calais in desperate attempts to board lorries heading for the UK.Hundreds of refugees and migrants have stormed a motorway leading to the port at Calais in desperate attempts to board lorries heading for the UK.
Riot police were sent to the incident near the “Jungle” camp on Wednesday morning, firing tear gas and attempting to force asylum seekers off the road.Riot police were sent to the incident near the “Jungle” camp on Wednesday morning, firing tear gas and attempting to force asylum seekers off the road.
The busy A216 was closed in both directions after clashes started at around 10am (9am GMT), causing P&O to warn of delays and diversions for passengers trying to reach its ferries.The busy A216 was closed in both directions after clashes started at around 10am (9am GMT), causing P&O to warn of delays and diversions for passengers trying to reach its ferries.
Local newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that up to 400 people climbed fences on to the motorway and attempted to stop traffic so they could hide on lorries.Local newspaper La Voix du Nord reported that up to 400 people climbed fences on to the motorway and attempted to stop traffic so they could hide on lorries.
Clashes reportedly broke out, seeing migrants throw rocks and projectiles at riot police, including one that injured a lorry driver.Clashes reportedly broke out, seeing migrants throw rocks and projectiles at riot police, including one that injured a lorry driver.
An officer told the newspaper that the situation was “serious”.An officer told the newspaper that the situation was “serious”.
“I have been on this assignment for a month but this time even worse,” he said. “There are big, big crowds. They want to stop HGVs but the HGVs are increasingly refusing to stop.“I have been on this assignment for a month but this time even worse,” he said. “There are big, big crowds. They want to stop HGVs but the HGVs are increasingly refusing to stop.
The road has since re-opened and delays around Calais were clearing.The road has since re-opened and delays around Calais were clearing.
Thousands of asylum seekers fleeing conflict and repression in the Middle East and Africa are believed to be camping in Calais in the hope of reaching the UK, although numbers have declined since the "crisis" in August.Thousands of asylum seekers fleeing conflict and repression in the Middle East and Africa are believed to be camping in Calais in the hope of reaching the UK, although numbers have declined since the "crisis" in August.
Many are in the so-called Jungle, where aid organisations have described squalid and unsanitary conditions that have worsened with the onset of winter.Many are in the so-called Jungle, where aid organisations have described squalid and unsanitary conditions that have worsened with the onset of winter.
French gendarmes try to stop migrants on the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles near Calais
French gendarmes try to stop migrants on the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles near Calais
Getty Images
A migrant climbs a security fence of a Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles near Calais
A migrant climbs a security fence of a Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles near Calais
French gendarmes block migrants along a road to prevent them access to train tracks which lead to the Channel Tunnel in Frethun, near Calais
Policemen try to prevent migrants from reaching the Channel Tunnel operated by Eurotunnel in Coquelles near Calais
A policeman faces migrants trying to reach the Channel Tunnel operated by Eurotunnel in Coquelles near Calais
A policeman tries to stop migrants on the Eurotunnel site in Coquelles near Calais
Migrants who managed to pass the police block on the Eurotunnel site climb over a fence to make their way towards the boarding docks in Coquelles near Calais
Migrants are seen near a Channel Tunnel train in Coquelles near Calais
Migrants trying to reach the Channel Tunnel run past policemen in Coquelles near Calaisa
Migrants step over the fence as they try to catch a train to reach England, in Calais
A migrant climbs a security fence of a Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles near Calais
Migrants warm themselves with a fire as they attempt to access the Channel Tunnel, in Calais
An Afghan flag flies above makeshift shelters at a site dubbed the "new jungle", where migrants trying to cross the Channel to reach Britain have camped out around the northern French port of Calais
Migrants build a makeshift shelter around the northern French port of Calais
Migrants build a makeshift shelter
Migrants walk in a makeshift camp in Calais
A driver climbs on his truck as he waits to cross the English channel, in Calais
Migrants walk along the roadside while a French policeman secures the area as lorries queue in Calais
Volunteers have been building shelters and staffing limited facilities but the French government has now started work on a new camp to house 1,500 people in larger tents, while shipping containers are also being repurposed.Volunteers have been building shelters and staffing limited facilities but the French government has now started work on a new camp to house 1,500 people in larger tents, while shipping containers are also being repurposed.
At least 13 asylum seekers have died trying to cross from Calais to Dover this year, with some being electrocuted by power cables in the Eurotunnel, hit by trains, falling or being killed in car accidents.At least 13 asylum seekers have died trying to cross from Calais to Dover this year, with some being electrocuted by power cables in the Eurotunnel, hit by trains, falling or being killed in car accidents.
The British government has pledged to resettle 20,000 refugees over the next five years but is only taking asylum seekers from UN camps in countries surrounding Syria, and not from “hotspots” like Calais where thousands have already reached Europe. The British government has pledged to resettle 20,000 refugees over the next five years but is only taking asylum seekers from UN camps in countries surrounding Syria, and not from “hotspots” like Calais where thousands have already reached Europe.