Four gunned down in turf war between rival Calais gangs

FOUR UK-bound migrants were shot near the port of Calais yesterday as police tried to break up a bloody fight between rival gangs.

At least three are in a critical condition with 13 seriously injured as mainly Afghan and Eritrean gangs fought with rocks and clubs in what was thought to be a “turf war”.

They clashed as charity workers distributed meals close to the ferry port. Fights usually break out over routes that migrants use to get into the UK, where they claim asylum.

At least one of the migrants was rushed to hospital in Lille for urgent surgery. The rest with gunshot wounds and others injured by clubs and knives were taken to hospital in Calais. It was not clear last night who was behind the shooting.

Hundreds armed with rocks, wooden clubs and other improvised weapons rioted for around two years until nearly 6pm.

Interior minister Gerard Collomb, was last night rushing to the area to deal with the emergency.

Police used tear gas and baton charges to restore order as running battles took place. Many of the migrants complained about riot officers pulling down tents and bivouacs set up in woods near the ferry port.

Many migrants were heard chanting obscenities at the police as some were taken into custody.

Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart described the day’s violence as “absolutely unacceptable”, saying: “This was fighting between migrants, these were turf wars. They are more and more guns, iron bars and other weapons being used. We have to clear the area. This is a security issue. The public can’t carry on accepting this situation,” she added. It follows the razing of the so-called Jungle camp, where up to 8,000 lived until October 2016.

During a visit to Calais last month, French president Emmanuel Macon said the town would no longer be “a secret gateway to England” for thousands of illegal migrants.

He said police and other agencies would stop them boarding trains, lorries and ferries heading for the UK but Britain would be expected to pay more for security in Calais and accept greater numbers of migrants who crossed the Channel to claim asylum.

“Everything is done so that illegal passage to the United Kingdom is not possible,” he said. “Calais must not be a secret gateway to England. The fundamental challenge is to ensure the security of the port of Calais and the Channel Tunnel”.

Calais has acted as a magnet to refugees and economic migrants from all over the world for more than 20 years. There are currently up to 1,000 congregating illegally in the area, according to charity groups and observers.