Eritreans critically injured in migrant brawl

TMP – 26/02/2018

Photo credit: AP / A clash between Eritrean and Afghan migrants in Calais, France, left four Eritreans critically injured.

Three mass brawls between Eritrean and Afghan migrants in Calais, northern France, left five Eritreans aged between 16 to 18 with gunshot injuries, four of them in a critical condition. The four victims were shot in the neck, chest, abdomen and spine. Another 22 people hospitalized.
After the shooting, two more brawls broke out. The second one happened when between 150 and 200 Eritreans, armed with iron rods and sticks, clashed with about 20 Afghans, leading to further injuries. According to reports, a 37-year-old Afghan smuggler is suspected of firing shots at Eritrean migrants queuing for food handouts, causing the second clash.
Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart said her town was confronted by all-out gang warfare.
“There will be people here at their wits’ ends faced with this increasingly violent presence among a certain number of migrants, who it is plain to see are organized in gangs,” French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said according to Reuters.

Though the infamous Calais “Jungle” was torn down in 2016, around 800 migrants are still living in the area, hoping to eventually make their way to the UK.

Migrants are asked to pay up to 3,000 euros by smugglers for this trip and the French interior ministry blames the smugglers for fueling the violence in Calais.
Minister Collomb also said that the government is planning to take over control of food distribution to migrants from local aid groups and make sure the handouts are carried out outside the town. According to the minister, this will help to stop migrants from gathering in Calais.
Last month, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that: “In no case will we allow another ‘Jungle’ here.” The remarks were made during a speech to announce a new border security deal with the UK, which will see increased security measures in Calais.