Eurotunnel is apparently facing a daily struggle with migrants who attempt to smuggle themselves into Britain, sometimes with fatal consequences. The latest incident caused serious delays to Eurotunnel train services.
A number of people were injured, a spokesman for Eurotunnel stated, without much elaborating. Passengers were held up for about an hour on the British side and 30 minutes on the French side on Tuesday, French news agency AFP reported. Meanwhile, the nation has agreed to provide an extra £7m ($10.9m) towards efforts to step up security at the Channel Tunnel railhead in Calais, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced. Eurotunnel is seeking compensation from the British and French governments
An official spokesman for Eurotunnel said the migrants were trying to enter the site “between midnight and 6am“, adding: “It was the biggest incursion effort in the past month and a half. All our security personnel, that is nearly 200 people, as well as police were called in.” While another Eurotunnel spokesman remarked that “There was some damage to our fences – which we’ll have to repair – as they tried to board shuttles. Fortunately, there wasn’t any damage to shuttles. Unfortunately, a number of people were injured. It is an almost nightly occurrence – we’re trying to run a travel business here.”
Eight migrants have died this summer trying to reach Britain through the Channel Tunnel.
There were delays to services last week when the body of a suspected migrant was found on the roof of a Eurotunnel train at the terminal in Folkestone, southern England.
AFP states an official count at the beginning of July found that about 3,000 migrants – mainly from Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan – were camping in Calais and trying to get across the Channel.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve held talks in London on Tuesday with the UK home secretary on the migrant issue. “The French and UK governments are working in close collaboration and co-operation on this issue which affects us both. We are both clear that we need to ensure we are dealing with the terrible criminal gangs, the people smugglers, who are making a profit out of the human misery of many people” stated the Secretary Ms. May.
Eurotunnel is seeking compensation from the British and French governments for disruption caused by illegal migrants.
Tags: Eurotunnel
