Five shot in mass brawl between migrants in Calais
Five migrants have been reported shot in the French port city of Calais as a result of a mass brawl between Afghans and Eritreans.
AFP news agency reports says four Eritrean youths aged 16-18 are in a critical condition and have been rushed to a local hospital for surgery, with the fifth man taken to nearby Lille due to the severity of his injuries. More than 13 more people were wounded due to blows from iron bars.
Gérard Collomb, French Interior Minister, had visited Calais overnight and said the clashes had been exceptionally serious. The minister added "There's been an escalation of violence that has become unbearable for both the people of Calais and the migrants." One of the wounded was said to have been hit by a bullet in the back of the neck.
The first altercation lasted for almost two hours and broke out on the city's southern outskirts where migrants had been queuing for food handouts. It was said to have started when an Afghan fired shots. A second then erupted at an industrial site around 3 miles (5km) away. French security forces have been sent to the area.
Calais migrant camp also known as the Jungle was demolished in 2016 and hundreds of migrants are still hoping to reach the UK, living rough in the nearby woods. Those left are mostly young men.
There are conflicting figures about the number of migrants currently in Calais with local charities stating about 800 migrants while the authorities says the figure is between 550 and 600.
AFP news agency reports says four Eritrean youths aged 16-18 are in a critical condition and have been rushed to a local hospital for surgery, with the fifth man taken to nearby Lille due to the severity of his injuries. More than 13 more people were wounded due to blows from iron bars.
Gérard Collomb, French Interior Minister, had visited Calais overnight and said the clashes had been exceptionally serious. The minister added "There's been an escalation of violence that has become unbearable for both the people of Calais and the migrants." One of the wounded was said to have been hit by a bullet in the back of the neck.
The first altercation lasted for almost two hours and broke out on the city's southern outskirts where migrants had been queuing for food handouts. It was said to have started when an Afghan fired shots. A second then erupted at an industrial site around 3 miles (5km) away. French security forces have been sent to the area.
Calais migrant camp also known as the Jungle was demolished in 2016 and hundreds of migrants are still hoping to reach the UK, living rough in the nearby woods. Those left are mostly young men.
There are conflicting figures about the number of migrants currently in Calais with local charities stating about 800 migrants while the authorities says the figure is between 550 and 600.
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