Thread: British journalism student gang-raped in Calais

British journalism student gang-raped in Calais
Police are investigating claims a young journalism student from London has been gang raped in Calais.

By Peter Allen, in Calais
Last Updated: 12:37PM BST 28 Aug 2008


Before the attack, the victim is believed to have wanted to spend time with the would-be immigrants in a notorious makeshift camp called 'The Jungle' Photo: BRIAN SMITH

The woman was reporting on illegal immigration from France to Britain and police believe the attack was carried by some of the men she intended to write about in the northern France port.

Detectives described the attack as being of a "particularly brutal nature".

Some 100 would-be immigrants to Britain were rounded up by a force of French riot police and are being questioned as potential witnesses.

The victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was described as "a London student who had travelled to France to highlight problems surrounding clandestine immigration."

A local police spokesman added: "She appeared to be working alone, which was clearly a very dangerous thing to do.

"We fear that the men she was reporting on attacked her in the wood where they were staying."

The woman is believed to have wanted to spend time with the immigrants in a notorious makeshift camp called "The Jungle" before the attack happened on Tuesday night.

Others in the town said she was in her late 20s or early 30s, and taking her own photographs rather than working with a colleague.

"The Jungle" is part of a disused an industrial zone called The Dunes, a short walk from the ferry port.

There would-be immigrants make tents out of plastic sheets and build fires.

They are supported by local charities, with the newly elected Right Wing council in Calais refusing to provide them with permanent accommodation.

Father Jean-Pierre Boutoille, of the refugee charity C'Sur, said: "There are lots of journalists, including students, who come here to get to the heart of what's going on, to write reports and produce films.

"When reporters contact us, we always ask to accompany them. We know the refugees as we see them everyday.

"We would never allow a young female adventurer in this wood, especially not at night. On Tuesday we did not receive any requests for assistance, and nor did any other charities."

Most of the vagrants claimed to be from Iraq, Afghanistan, or the Middle East, although police believe many were from eastern Europe and the Balkans.

One, who asked not to be named, said: "Yes, I saw a young journalist with a camera. Lots come this way.

"I don't know who she was exactly, but she was young, perhaps 30, and a student from London. The word is that something happened to her in the woods."

In 2005 a gang of would-be immigrants was implicated in the rape of a resident of Oye-Plage, near Calais.

But while fights between immigrants competing for routes into Britain are commonplace, this is believed to be the first time that a journalist trying to highlight their plight has been attacked.

Calais became a magnate for immigrants in the late 90s following the opening of the Sangatte Cross Centre, which housed 67,000 immigrants over three years.

Before its closure in 2002 following an agreement between the French and British governments many tried to jump on to slow-moving trains at the entrance to the Channel Tunnel, or hide inside lorries crossing to Britain on ferries.

The election of a new Right Wing council in Calais saw plans to open a Sangatte II abandoned, but would-be immigrants to Britain still arrive by the day.

The Home Office said the number of refugees caught entering Britain illegally from Calais has fallen to around 1,500 a year from 10,000 in 2002, when Sangatte closed.
http://tinyurl.com/5koeey

Illegals cause problems everywhere they go.....so sorry for the young woman!

This is why America needs to deport ALL ILLEGALS!!!!

I feel sorry for the young woman, but what was she thinking, going into a place like that, alone??

Wow! 100 men rounded up! They must suspect that many men were involved in the rape. This may be one of the biggest gang rapes by illegals we have heard of to date.

So far, the record is six people gang raping the young North Carolina woman in Hunterville, NC a few years back but this attack could be much larger.

W

Welcome Smoof:

It is so nice that you are posting and have a great journey here with ALIPAC.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This story is awful. But this is happening (rape and murder) more than gets reported.

Welcome to ALIPAC, Smoof. Lots to read and do here!

Welcome to Alipac Smoof:





Glad to have you with us.