Thread: Riots in Calais: Refugees Torch Two Trucks, Threaten Drivers

Riots in Calais: Refugees Torch Two Trucks, Threaten Drivers


Riots in Calais: Refugees Torch Two Trucks, Threaten Drivers© AFP 2016/ PHILIPPE HUGUEN

EUROPE 17:11 04.08.2016 (updated 17:13 04.08.2016)

Another terrifying round of arson and fighting between migrants and security personnel occurred last night. Coco, team member of 'Angry Calais Residents' (Calaisiens en colère), told Sputnik the details of last night’s riots; meanwhile, a volunteer from a humanitarian organization insisted that the refugees were 'completely harmless'.

“Last night, clashes with illegal immigrants took place in public, urban areas. Refugees actually attacked people with bats and threw stones at them. They set two cars on fire, resulting in police interference.

Residents have no other choice but to protect their homes on their own,” said Coco, a member of Calaisiens en colère, a self-defense organization comprised of embittered locals.
Such clashes occur nearly every day.

This time, the French police placed a truck to block the migrants from entering the tunnel. This provoked a savage response from the violent outsiders.

“The truck was set on fire last night, where illegal immigrants had set up a blockade, piled trees, stones and so on. After they began to throw bottles with an inflammable mixture to burn down the barricade, they also hit the truck. And it appears that they attacked the driver with a saw that was in their hands,” explained Coco.

The situation in the “Jungle” is deteriorating daily. Recently, the southern part was taken down, and refugees moved to the north part of the camp.

“Often these casualties happen as a result of recent changes. Migrants took up arms against each other, especially when they were all moved to the northern zone. However, they are completely harmless.

They just want to leave, they don’t want to rest there for long,” explained a volunteer from “Land of Tramps” (Terre d’errance), a humanitarian association.

When the camp was torn down, the situation only worsened. The authorities closed shops and cafes, which in terms of food was a total disaster. Food is given away once a day for 3, 500 people, and there are 7,000 of them.

“The government is to blame for the current situation. President Francois Hollande is willing to accept more immigrants, who want to find shelter in France. Probably it is all about money. But anyway no one thinks about our well-being. Calais became an awful place to live in, and the government does not care,” said Coco.

“In addition, nothing changed after Brexit,” Coco said. “Only a few illegal immigrants want to move to England. The majority of people want to stay in Calais. They feel good here – they are fed and they are given shelter. They have everything they need.”

Report Slams EU's Failure to Foresee 'Colossal' Migrant Crisis

According to official data, only 4, 500 migrants are 'temporarily' living in the Jungle. However, other estimates put the total at 9,000. This number is expected to swell to 10,000 by September.Each day, between 50 and 100 migrants arrive in Calais with sleeping bags.

While some make it across the channel, often with the help of rival organized criminal gangs of smugglers, many stay.

Not everyone survives; some have died from hunger and disease, while others have been run over after attempting to cling to trucks in the tunnel under the English Channel.

In the last 15 days, four have died.

Riots in Calais: Refugees Torch Two Trucks, Threaten Drivers

Chainsaw-wielding migrant gang threaten British-bound driver in Calais

A TERRIFIED trucker was threatened by a chainsaw-wielding migrant gang who blocked the road with fire in a bid to get into Britain.

By Charlie Bayliss / Published 3rd August 2016

CHRIS MURPHY
SHOCKING: One of the migrants tries to hide the chainsaw behind his back

The driver was threatened with a chainsaw in Calais on Monday evening, during a night of chaos in the French port town, according to the Freight Transport Association.

The FTA said migrants used fuel to make a wall of flames to stop traffic in a bid to climb onboard.

GETTY
ALL-ABOARD: Migrants have been trying to enter Britain from the Jungle camp

A Belgian driver told the FTA he saw one of the migrants, wearing a mask, trying to hide the deadly weapon.

The driver’s boss, who did not want to be named, said: “Please do something, there will be deaths.

“Our drivers are threatened every night."

EPA

The incident has led to fears more attacks could happen in the coming weeks as the population of the Jungle camp has risen to more than 7,000 migrants.

Chris Yarsley, the Freight Transport Association's EU Affairs Manager, said: "These drivers are just trying to do their job, moving goods from Europe to the UK through the country's busiest port.

"Attacks like this are unacceptable and more needs to be done to protect them as they go about their work."

GETTY
CAMP: The Calais camp has around 7,000 inhabitants

There were more problems in Calais last night after migrants set fire to a lorry on a bridge near the port.

Mr Yarsley said: "A robust process must be put in place to quickly deal with applications from genuine asylum seekers rather than economic migrants and move them out of the camp."

“Relocating the camp away from the port would prevent the relentless attacks on commercial vehicles passing close by and allow our members to carry out their job without fear of attack or fines for unwittingly carrying migrants on their trucks.”

Chainsaw-wielding migrant gang threaten British-bound driver

Illegal immigrants and refugees are mentioned as the perpetrators. These groups bring crime and other problems.

Four Dartford lorry drivers attacked at Calais in 'second summer of crisis'


Dan Cook, Operations Director of Europa Road

1 day ago / James Parsons, reporter / Jame5Parsons


Four Dartford lorry drivers have been attacked in Calais in the past two weeks, dubbed by haulage boss as a “second summer of crisis”.

A trucker from the Europa Worldwide Group logistics firm in Albion Road was knifed in an attack carried out by three people at a petrol station at the French border.

The driver’s arm was cut before the trio ran off as another lorry entered the AS24 fuelling station.

One of the damaged trucks attacked in Calais (c.) PA

On three other occasions the company’s drivers have been brought to a halt on the main approach roads to the port by people hurling rocks and trees into the road.

Once the trucks were immobile, migrants tried to stow themselves away in a bid to cross over into the UK, causing “significant damage” to the trailers and cargo.

Europa makes around 70 crossings on the Calais to Dover/Folkestone route every day and claims to have monitored a “significant and dangerous spike in migrant activity” in a “second summer of crisis”.

Dan Cook, Operations Director of Europa Road, is urging the authorities to ensure a safer passage to trucks and drivers transiting between the continent and UK.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) - the UK trade association dedicated solely to the needs of UK road transport operators - has also been targeted by Mr Cook, who described the last spate of attacks as “gravely concerning.”

“Drivers face real danger,” Mr Cook said, “And it is vital it is that we safeguard our drivers in what are frightening and intimidating situations.

“As a result we have seen delays to transit, damage and write off of clients products and drivers refusing to make the journey via Calais.

“More needs to be done by the combined cross-border authorities to better manage the situation, before more serious harm comes to individuals or drivers.”

“I urge the RHA to press hard to both the UK and French government to ensure a safer passage to trucks transiting between the continent and UK.”

A survey conducted in May showed how many staying in the Jungle were economic migrants (c.) PA

In May, the charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, found that 82 per cent of Calais’ 6,000 refugees were aiming for the shores of the UK.

The survey also showed how more than a half of those living in the “Jungle” were economic migrants with secondary or further education qualifications and backgrounds in academia, agriculture, engineers, IT, and the forces.

Of that number estimated to be living in the Calais Jungle 95 per cent of those in the MSF survey were men with an average age of 25.

Haulage boss wants more protection for truckers at 'dangerous' Calais

Haulage boss wants more protection for truckers at 'dangerous' Calais

By PRESS ASSOCIATION
PUBLISHED: 17:40 GMT, 3 August 2016 | UPDATED: 17:40 GMT, 3 August 2016

A haulage company boss has called for greater protection for truckers as he warned of a "second summer of crisis" in Calais.

Dan Cook, operations director of Dartford-based Europa Road, said his drivers had been the victims of four attacks in the past two weeks.

He said one driver was attacked by three people with knives at an AS24 station in Calais, leaving him with a cut to his arm.

Migrants on the roof of a lorry in Calais, France, last year

The assailants ran off when another truck arrived, he said.

On another three occasions, trucks had been stopped on main approach roads to the port by people throwing rocks and trees into the carriageway.

He said: "Once the truck has been forced to stop, significant damage to the truck has taken place as migrants swarm all over the trailer, breaking in, damaging cargo, and secreting themselves on board, only to be later found in part at Calais and part on arrival to our terminal in Dartford (despite dogs on the trailer in both Calais and UK)."

Mr Cook has written to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) calling for action to protect his workers.

He said: "I want to highlight to the RHA the growing number of issues we are seeing in and around Calais, in order to put some further energy behind your petitions to governments.

"Last summer's situation is well-discussed and documented and, after a quieter period, we as Europa, who make around 70 crossings on the Calais - Dover/Folkestone route per day, have seen a significant and dangerous spike in migrant activity.

"In the last two weeks alone, we have had four incidents that personally I find gravely concerning.

"Drivers face real danger and it is vital it is that we safeguard our drivers in what are frightening and intimidating situations.

"As a result we have seen delays to transit, damage and write-off of clients' products and drivers refusing to make the journey via Calais.

"More needs to be done by the combined cross-border authorities to better manage the situation, before more serious harm comes to individuals or drivers.

"I urge the RHA to press hard to both the UK and French government to ensure a safer passage to trucks transiting between the Continent and UK."

Haulage boss wants more protection for truckers at 'dangerous' calais ...

When will EU start to turn them back at their first point of entry??? - it is ridiculous, an enormous health & safety issue too. These people are crashers, overtakers, demanding illegal entry and do not have a right to enter any country they want to. They have their own country, that is where they should be - let them lean on their own gov't for survival.