Thread: Migrants wounded in gunfight in camp near Dunkirk

LILLE, France (Reuters) – Three migrants from the Grande-Synthe camp near Dunkirk, northern France, were injured on Tuesday in what a charity worker said appeared to be a fight between rival bands of smugglers.

One of the three migrants was wounded by gunshots, an official at the local prefecture told Reuters. They were all taken to Dunkirk hospital.

The French charity source, who declined to be named or identify his organisation to avoid being targeted, said the incident appeared to be caused by a rift between smugglers.

Some 3,000 people, many of them Kurds, live in the makeshift camp in the town of Grande-Synthe just 35 km away from the so-called “Jungle” camp in Calais on France’s north coast.

Like in Calais, most of them hope eventually to reach Britain, across the Channel, where better job opportunities and the more familiar English language are big draws.

Reuters - Migrants wounded in gunfight in camp near Dunkirk

UK-bound migrant is SHOT as smugglers battle each other in a gunfight at the Dunkirk immigration camp

A UK-bound migrant was wounded by gunfire from suspected smugglers

Shooting took place at a notorious migrant camp near Dunkirk today

Police were called when trouble broke out at Grande-Synthe shanty town

A UK-bound migrant was wounded by gunfire from suspected people smugglers at a notorious migrant camp near Dunkirk today.

Police were called when trouble broke out at the notorious Grande-Synthe shanty town in the late afternoon.

'Three migrants were badly wounded in all, including one by a bullet,' said a local police source. 'It is thought that people smugglers were involved in the violence'.

Read more: UK-bound migrant is SHOT as smugglers battle at the Dunkirk immigration camp