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How militancy and desperation collided to plunge Calais into chaos after migrants took advantage of port workers' wildcat strike How militancy and desperation collided to plunge Calais into chaos after migrants took advantage of port workers' wildcat strike
(35 minutes later)
Europe’s migration crisis played out dramatically on the motorways of northern France on Tuesday, as hundreds of desperate migrants attempted to board UK-bound lorries while taking advantage of a wildcat strike by Calais port workers.Europe’s migration crisis played out dramatically on the motorways of northern France on Tuesday, as hundreds of desperate migrants attempted to board UK-bound lorries while taking advantage of a wildcat strike by Calais port workers.
The strike by ferry workers saw the UK’s main transport links to the continent left at a standstill throughout the day, after striking MyFerryLink workers blocked the Port of Calais and “broke into” the Channel Tunnel where they started a fire, prompting the cancellation of all passenger and freight services.The strike by ferry workers saw the UK’s main transport links to the continent left at a standstill throughout the day, after striking MyFerryLink workers blocked the Port of Calais and “broke into” the Channel Tunnel where they started a fire, prompting the cancellation of all passenger and freight services.
Thousands of British tourists remain stranded with Eurostar passenger services remaining suspended, while truckers and drivers using the Eurotunnel vehicle shuttle service were facing hours of delays in getting home after trains finally began running again.Thousands of British tourists remain stranded with Eurostar passenger services remaining suspended, while truckers and drivers using the Eurotunnel vehicle shuttle service were facing hours of delays in getting home after trains finally began running again.
The Foreign Office was forced to issue an unprecedented warning to drivers in northern France, as hundreds of migrants used the disruption at the French port to attempt to break into the back of gridlocked heavy goods vehicles headed for Britain. The scene at St Pancras station in London, as stranded Eurostar passengers wait as trains are cancelled (AP) The Foreign Office was forced to issue an unprecedented warning to drivers in northern France, as hundreds of migrants used the disruption at the French port to attempt to break into the back of gridlocked heavy goods vehicles headed for Britain.
“There are large numbers of illegal migrants in and around Calais, who may seek to enter the UK illegally,” said an official statement. “Although local police patrols have been reinforced, you should keep vehicle doors locked in slow-moving traffic and secure your vehicle when it is left unattended.”“There are large numbers of illegal migrants in and around Calais, who may seek to enter the UK illegally,” said an official statement. “Although local police patrols have been reinforced, you should keep vehicle doors locked in slow-moving traffic and secure your vehicle when it is left unattended.”
The chaotic scenes came as a new National Crime Agency report showed the number of migrants caught trying to enter Britain clandestinely had more than doubled last year, with attempts to come to Britain from North Africa rising by 300 per cent.The chaotic scenes came as a new National Crime Agency report showed the number of migrants caught trying to enter Britain clandestinely had more than doubled last year, with attempts to come to Britain from North Africa rising by 300 per cent.
There was nothing clandestine about the scenes outside Calais, though. Aerial footage showed dozens of migrants trying to board lorries on the A16 motorway, after protesting French ferry workers set fire to tyres and hay bales on the road in the early hours of the morning.There was nothing clandestine about the scenes outside Calais, though. Aerial footage showed dozens of migrants trying to board lorries on the A16 motorway, after protesting French ferry workers set fire to tyres and hay bales on the road in the early hours of the morning.
The number of migrants gathered around Calais is thought to have swelled to 3,000 since April, in what aid workers have a called a “catastrophic” situation. Up to 2,000 more from war-torn countries including Eritrea, Syria and Afghanistan are expected to arrive over the summer.The number of migrants gathered around Calais is thought to have swelled to 3,000 since April, in what aid workers have a called a “catastrophic” situation. Up to 2,000 more from war-torn countries including Eritrea, Syria and Afghanistan are expected to arrive over the summer.
Outnumbered French riot police were forced to draw their batons and threaten migrants with CS spray. They struggled to contain the numbers of people jumping on lorries, which sat stationary in 10-mile long tailbacks stretching out of Calais.Outnumbered French riot police were forced to draw their batons and threaten migrants with CS spray. They struggled to contain the numbers of people jumping on lorries, which sat stationary in 10-mile long tailbacks stretching out of Calais.
Authorities in Calais have been struggling under the weight of increased migrant numbers, and fears that increasing conflict in North Africa and the Middle East could cause migrant numbers spike this summer.Authorities in Calais have been struggling under the weight of increased migrant numbers, and fears that increasing conflict in North Africa and the Middle East could cause migrant numbers spike this summer.
In recent weeks reports of migrants blocking roads have prompted the town’s mayor to call on the French government to provoke a “diplomatic incident” with Britain over the issues. On Monday Natacha Bouchart said that Britain does not give a single “euro” towards helping the town handle the influx of immigrants.In recent weeks reports of migrants blocking roads have prompted the town’s mayor to call on the French government to provoke a “diplomatic incident” with Britain over the issues. On Monday Natacha Bouchart said that Britain does not give a single “euro” towards helping the town handle the influx of immigrants.
French aid workers in the town have warned that the problem is coming to a head, and that a sprawling makeshift campsite, known locally as the Jungle, has become so large that it is no longer safe. A police officer sprays tear gas at migrants on the A16 highway in Calais (Getty) French aid workers in the town have warned that the problem is coming to a head, and that a sprawling makeshift campsite, known locally as the Jungle, has become so large that it is no longer safe.
Tensions mounted further when the deputy mayor of Calais blamed the British government for the number of people trying to board lorries. Philippe Mignonet told the BBC: “We will block the port – as simple as that. We’ll arrange to block the tunnel if nothing is done.”Tensions mounted further when the deputy mayor of Calais blamed the British government for the number of people trying to board lorries. Philippe Mignonet told the BBC: “We will block the port – as simple as that. We’ll arrange to block the tunnel if nothing is done.”
The Home Office said it was monitoring the situation closely, and was working with French security services to strengthen law and order in and around Calais.The Home Office said it was monitoring the situation closely, and was working with French security services to strengthen law and order in and around Calais.
David Cameron’s official spokeswoman said the Prime Minister was in “close touch” with French authorities. Mr Cameron is expected to use an EU summit on Thursday to call for a “comprehensive approach” to illegal immigration.David Cameron’s official spokeswoman said the Prime Minister was in “close touch” with French authorities. Mr Cameron is expected to use an EU summit on Thursday to call for a “comprehensive approach” to illegal immigration.
Donald Armour, the Freight Transport Association’s international affairs manager, had warned that hauliers were “really, really worried” that a migrant or lorry driver could be seriously injured. French riot police take position to drive out protesters blocking the railway tracks (Getty) Donald Armour, the Freight Transport Association’s international affairs manager, had warned that hauliers were “really, really worried” that a migrant or lorry driver could be seriously injured.
“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. “The situation is 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. “The situation is worse than it has ever been.”
Duncan, a British lorry driver stranded in Calais who did not want to give his surname, said: “I saw smoke billowing up from the road ahead as tyres and debris was set on fire by the French striker.Duncan, a British lorry driver stranded in Calais who did not want to give his surname, said: “I saw smoke billowing up from the road ahead as tyres and debris was set on fire by the French striker.
“There were would-be immigrants coming out of the roads and bushes trying to dodge the French riot police and get in our lorries.”“There were would-be immigrants coming out of the roads and bushes trying to dodge the French riot police and get in our lorries.”
Part of the M20 motorway was forced to close to hold freight traffic on the coast-bound carriageway of the key route to the Continent. Police in Kent said there would probably be continued disruption on the road around Dover throughout Wednesday.Part of the M20 motorway was forced to close to hold freight traffic on the coast-bound carriageway of the key route to the Continent. Police in Kent said there would probably be continued disruption on the road around Dover throughout Wednesday.
The disruption was the result of up to 400 MyFerryLink staff going on strike from the early hours of Tuesday morning, blocking the harbour and trespassing on the tracks at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel. The strikers fear the sale of their company to the Danish firm DFDS by its current owner Eurotunnel would result in redundancies. French riot police officers drive out protesting French employees of the freight ferry company MyFerryLink (Getty) The disruption was the result of up to 400 MyFerryLink staff going on strike from the early hours of Tuesday morning, blocking the harbour and trespassing on the tracks at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel. The strikers fear the sale of their company to the Danish firm DFDS by its current owner Eurotunnel would result in redundancies.
The ferry operator P&O hit out at the decision by Eurotunnel, which it said had taken place with little or no consultation with MyFerryLink staff.The ferry operator P&O hit out at the decision by Eurotunnel, which it said had taken place with little or no consultation with MyFerryLink staff.
A spokesperson for DFDS said it understood that this was a “difficult time for MyFerryLink employees”, but that it hoped the action would “end swiftly”.A spokesperson for DFDS said it understood that this was a “difficult time for MyFerryLink employees”, but that it hoped the action would “end swiftly”.