Monday, February 29, 2016

CALAIS BURNS: Migrants in violent clashes with police over Jungle camp demolition

CALAIS BURNS: Migrants in violent clashes with police over Jungle camp demolition


FIRES have been started across the Calais Jungle camp as French authorities continued dismantling shelters and tents with hammers today.


CAlais

Getty / REUTERS

Fires have been started as the French authorities try to move migrants out of the Calais Jungle camp
As smoke filled the air, migrants turned on police who used tear gas to try to disperse the rioters.
Demolition crews entered the crime-ridden camp on Sunday morning after a judge gave his final blessing to plans to pull down a huge section of the tent shanty town.

Hundreds of migrants are being evicted from the southern section of the camp in a move which could reduce its population to less than a thousand.

But as French removal staff tried to dismantle temporary structures in the camp, some were set on fire while stones were thrown at them and then police who stepped in to help.

Police responded by throwing tear gas bombs into the camp, with the wind blowing the gas across the entire southern section.
A massive police presence has been deployed to the makeshift shanty town, with more than 100 officers guarding bulldozers demolishing the southern part of the camp.

Officers have threatened to use force against those who refuse to evacuate the area, according to reports from social media.

The Calais prefect, Fabienne Buccio, said the threat was justified due to "verbal and physical assaults" made against authorities at the end of last week.
Demolition teams have started dismantling shelters in CalaisTWITTER
Demolition teams have started dismantling shelters in Calais

Those who tried to encourage migrants to move into accommodation provided by the government were "insulted [and] harassed" by "mainly British activists", according to Ms Buccio.

The politician added that activists had tried to stop migrants boarding buses to go to migration centres.

At least 55 police vans arrived at the scene yesterday and the area was cordoned off by officers.
Authorities are threatening to arrest migrants who refuse to leave the Jungle as people sit on the roofs of shelters in protest. 
Workers dismantling campTWITTER

Many migrants are expected to move to the other half of the Jungle or to nearby Dunkirk
So far one arrest has been made since the dismantling of the camp started at 8.30am local time on Saturday.

The move will come as a huge relief for locals in the besieged port town, who have been subjected to years of violence and intimidation by the notorious crime gangs who run the Jungle.

It is also hoped it will alleviate the unbearable pressure on British truckers, who are routinely attacked by migrants front he camp whilst travelling through Calais on their way to Dover.

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