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Calais migrants seek to exploit port strike | Calais migrants seek to exploit port strike |
(35 minutes later) | |
A strike has forced the suspension of services through the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, as hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos. | A strike has forced the suspension of services through the Channel Tunnel between the UK and France, as hundreds of migrants try to board UK-bound lorries amid the chaos. |
Eurotunnel, which manages the crossing, said "protesters" had entered the terminal and started a fire. | Eurotunnel, which manages the crossing, said "protesters" had entered the terminal and started a fire. |
Migrants have been trying to board lorries caught in slow-moving traffic. | Migrants have been trying to board lorries caught in slow-moving traffic. |
About 3,000 migrants are estimated to be living rough around Calais, waiting for a chance to cross the channel. | About 3,000 migrants are estimated to be living rough around Calais, waiting for a chance to cross the channel. |
Lorry drivers have been advised to make sure all their doors are padlocked, to stick with other drivers and not to stop within about 60 miles (100km) of the port. | Lorry drivers have been advised to make sure all their doors are padlocked, to stick with other drivers and not to stop within about 60 miles (100km) of the port. |
Workers from the MyFerryLink company had blockaded the port of Calais in a protest over job cuts earlier on Tuesday. | |
The strike is preventing ships leaving or entering the port, forcing drivers to use the Eurotunnel service instead and causing long queues on the roads into Calais. | |
Later on Tuesday, the tunnel itself was shut after striking workers gained access to the tracks and caused a fire, Eurotunnel said. | |
It said it hoped to be able to resume its shuttle services for vehicles later in the evening. | |
The Eurostar train company, which also uses the tunnel, said "trains will not be able to run for the rest of the day". | |
'Miles of traffic' | 'Miles of traffic' |
Eurotunnel said the number of migrants in the Calais area was the "highest ever". | |
Helicopter footage showed large groups gathered by the side of the road, some chasing and boarding a moving lorry from behind. | Helicopter footage showed large groups gathered by the side of the road, some chasing and boarding a moving lorry from behind. |
Other migrants were seen talking openly with drivers, while one group was chased away from a lorry by a driver who saw them attempting to break in. | Other migrants were seen talking openly with drivers, while one group was chased away from a lorry by a driver who saw them attempting to break in. |
One man ran down the middle of the motorway to close the door behind others who had jumped aboard. | One man ran down the middle of the motorway to close the door behind others who had jumped aboard. |
James Kleinfeld, an eyewitness, told the BBC he had seen dozens of migrants on the side of the road. | James Kleinfeld, an eyewitness, told the BBC he had seen dozens of migrants on the side of the road. |
"We counted around 50 people that we saw hanging around the junction after the exit from the Channel Tunnel train station," he said. | "We counted around 50 people that we saw hanging around the junction after the exit from the Channel Tunnel train station," he said. |
"I cross quite often but I've never seen any [migrants] hanging around that part. They are on the motorway, they are on the side of the motorway. In the direction of the UK there is miles and miles of traffic." | "I cross quite often but I've never seen any [migrants] hanging around that part. They are on the motorway, they are on the side of the motorway. In the direction of the UK there is miles and miles of traffic." |
According to the Home Office, about 19,000 attempts to cross the Channel have been prevented in 2015, more than double the number during the same period last year. | According to the Home Office, about 19,000 attempts to cross the Channel have been prevented in 2015, more than double the number during the same period last year. |
'Worse than ever' | 'Worse than ever' |
The deputy mayor of Calais, Philippe Mignonet, told the BBC that the UK government was to blame for the number of migrants attempting to cross. | |
"We will block the port - as simple as that. We'll arrange to block the tunnel if nothing is done," Mr Mignonet said. | "We will block the port - as simple as that. We'll arrange to block the tunnel if nothing is done," Mr Mignonet said. |
Donald Armour, international manager at the UK Freight Transport Association (FTA), said the situation was "definitely worse than it has ever been". | |
"There is a lot of fighting between the migrants who all want to be on the best part of the road to get on to the lorries," he said. | "There is a lot of fighting between the migrants who all want to be on the best part of the road to get on to the lorries," he said. |
"We haven't had a fatality but it's not good." | "We haven't had a fatality but it's not good." |
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