Migrants clash with police in Calais
LILLE, France:French police clashed with stone-throwing migrants near the northern French port of Calais on Thursday, leading the local mayor to call for their camp to be "immediately dismantled". Police were trying to carry out security checks at the camp in Teteghem, near Calais, which they say is controlled by
By our correspondents
October 30, 2015
LILLE, France:French police clashed with stone-throwing migrants near the northern French port of Calais on Thursday, leading the local mayor to call for their camp to be "immediately dismantled".
Police were trying to carry out security checks at the camp in Teteghem, near Calais, which they say is controlled by people smugglers.
Teteghem mayor Franck Dhersin described the camp as a "lawless zone".
"I am asking for the immediate dismantling of the camp, if necessary by force," he told AFP. "The camp has always been in the hands of smugglers. It’s a mafia that functions like a drug gang." He said the smugglers that have been arrested in the region were only "small fish", and blamed the British government for failing to target their bosses whom he said were based in Britain.
Nearly 250 people currently live in the Teteghem camp -- mostly Syrians, but also Iraqis, Iranians and a small number of Vietnamese.
It is thought to house better-funded migrants, who can afford to pay thousands of euros to be smuggled in vehicles across the Channel to Britain.
Some 6,000 poorer migrants are gathered a few kilometres away at the "New Jungle" camp in Calais, hoping to find their own ways of sneaking into the Channel Tunnel or aboard ships.
Although the camp has excited huge interest in France and Britain, the numbers are tiny compared to other countries, notably Germany which is expected to receive up to a million people this year.
Police were trying to carry out security checks at the camp in Teteghem, near Calais, which they say is controlled by people smugglers.
Teteghem mayor Franck Dhersin described the camp as a "lawless zone".
"I am asking for the immediate dismantling of the camp, if necessary by force," he told AFP. "The camp has always been in the hands of smugglers. It’s a mafia that functions like a drug gang." He said the smugglers that have been arrested in the region were only "small fish", and blamed the British government for failing to target their bosses whom he said were based in Britain.
Nearly 250 people currently live in the Teteghem camp -- mostly Syrians, but also Iraqis, Iranians and a small number of Vietnamese.
It is thought to house better-funded migrants, who can afford to pay thousands of euros to be smuggled in vehicles across the Channel to Britain.
Some 6,000 poorer migrants are gathered a few kilometres away at the "New Jungle" camp in Calais, hoping to find their own ways of sneaking into the Channel Tunnel or aboard ships.
Although the camp has excited huge interest in France and Britain, the numbers are tiny compared to other countries, notably Germany which is expected to receive up to a million people this year.
-
US Opens Civil Rights Probe Into Alex Pretti Shooting: Report -
Prince William, Kate Middleton Decide Next Step For Prince George -
Catherine O’Hara: Home Alone Actress Dies After 'brief Illness' -
Princess Anne Refuses An Offer Made At Palace -
'The Rookie's' Mekia Cox Reveals Her Daughter's Debut In Season 8 -
King Charles Faces Challenge Over 'disgraced' Andrew's New Home -
Bianca Censori 'tried' To Walk Away 'a Number Of Times' From Kanye West Marriage: Source -
Halle Berry Reveals Why She Stayed 'alone' Before Meeting Boyfriend Van Hunt -
'A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms' Peter Claffey Makes Rare Comment About Costar Dexter Sol Ansell -
Sarah Ferguson's Friend Opens Up About Former Duchess Of York Mental Health -
Claudia Oshry Shares Key Reason Behind Her Exit From 'The Masked Singer' Season 14 -
Jelly Roll, Wife Bunnie Xo Suffer From 'baby Fever' -
Princess Beatrice's Husband Visits Erotic Painting In US -
Prince William To Turn To Zara Tindall For Support In Royal Duties -
Gabrielle Union Recalls Her First Meeting With Barack Obama -
Why Trump Nominated 'Kevin Warsh' For Fed-chair: Know All Details