Riots break out in Calais as hundreds of Jungle camp migrants fight pitched battles with cops in bid to reach the UK
The clashes broke out on wasteland yesterday near the shantytown where 10,000 people are living
VIOLENCE broke out in the so-called "Jungle" refugee camp in Calais yesterday as hundreds of UK-bound migrants fought a pitched battle with police.
Clashes started at around 3pm on waste ground bordering the notorious shantytown, which is now home to around 10,000 people.
"Missiles were thrown at officers, and migrants tried to get out of the camp, and on to nearby roads," said a local police source.
"Their aim was to stop lorries heading for Britain. The disturbances went on for about an hour and half, before the situation calmed down at around 4.30pm."
Police fired scores of teargas cannisters and the ring road next to he Jungle was temporarily closed.
related stories
Some 30 men were also moved away from the main road, where they were trying to get on board vehicles heading to the UK by ferry.
One migrant was arrested after being caught throwing objects at police officers, one of whom was hurt in a shoulder.
It came as work continued on a controversial British taxpayer funded £2m new wall in the area.
French charities and politicians from both left and right are among those who have reacted with fury to the building of the so-called "Wall of Shame".
A French online petition against the wall reads: "We must stop this expenditure by the British taxpayer being used to build a wall that has no meaning."
It adds that Britain should deal with the refugees who want to start lives in the UK, deporting them if necessary.
Under the 2003 Le Touquet deal between France and the UK, Britain can carry out checks in Calais to stop migrants trying to get to Britain, while French counterparts can do the equivalent in Dover.
Right-wing politicians such as former president Nicolas Sarkozy and Xavier Bertrand, the head of the regional council in Calais, want Touquet torn up if the Republicans defeat the Socialists in French presidential elections next Spring.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368.