Trauma hit refugees housed between gun clubs FINCHINGFIELD GUN CLUB
Anger after new arrivals too nervous to sleep
Scene of attack
TED HENNESSEY
A BOY of 17 was stabbed to death in a late-night street fight in front of horrified birthday party guests.
The teenager died at the scene in Brent, north-west London, at around 11.30pm on Friday.
Another youth, also believed to be 17, was taken to hospital – along with a woman in her 20s, who suffered a hand injury.
A murder investigation is under way and Det Chief Inspector Mark Rogers said: “We believe there was a fight following a birthday party. I urge anyone who was there to please come forward. It is vital we establish what happened.
“I would also ask that anyone who may have captured any of last night’s events on their phone to also contact officers.”
Bryson
MATTHEW DRESCH
REFUGEES from war zones will be “re-traumatised” after being housed between two shooting ranges, say campaigners.
The UK’S biggest migrant camp opened its doors to the first 50 residents on Wednesday on a converted air base at Wethersfield, Essex.
But many of the men were freaked out by the sound of clay pigeon shooting at Finchingfield Gun Club, said an insider. The source said: “It’s not the nicest thing to happen on your first night. The refugees were nervous all night after hearing gunfire, not many slept great.”
One local, John Freshwater, 53, added: “It was quite loud and went on for a couple of hours. It will be re-traumatising for the refugees.”
Another local said he warned the Home Office of the dangers.
Tony Clarke-holland, 55, deputy chair of the anti-wethersfield campaign group The Fields Association, said: “It’s one of the objections I put up to the Home Office.
But the Home Office don’t engage.”
The site – built to house up to 1,700 arriving in small boats across the Channel – is between Finchingfield Gun Club and Bocking Clay Pigeon Club, both about 500 metres away.
Independent immigration policy expert Zoe Gardner branded the Home Office “totally callous and thoughtless” for housing refugees there.
She said: “Every single person held at Wethersfield will have gone through extremely traumatic experiences.
“We know the most likely nationalities will be people from Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan – places where there are wars. Bullet sounds will signify the risk of death.
“These sounds will be associated with times when their family members have died and when they have had to flee. Being exposed to the sound of gunfire will be a major trigger for serious mental health breakdowns in some cases and could provoke nightmares and panic attacks.”
Sophie Mccann, 39, migration adviser for Doctors Without Borders UK, added: “There is clearly a risk that anyone who has fled conflict could be re-traumatised.
“The Home Office must put a stop to this inhumane containment approach.”
Both gun clubs were approached for comment. The Home Office said: “Accommodation on surplus military sites will provide cheaper and more orderly, suitable accommodation for those arriving in small boats whilst helping to reduce the use of hotels. “We understand the concerns of local communities and will work closely with councils and key partners to manage the impact of using these sites.” Meanwhile, judges say the Government can go to the Supreme Court in October in a bid to force through its plan to deport migrants to Rwanda following the Court of Appeal’s veto. Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “I believe this policy is lawful and both the High Court and Court of Appeal have been unanimously clear that relocating asylum seekers to a safe third country can be done in line with the Refugee Convention.”