Migrants target Eurotunnel every night

Unpublished
London - Incursions by "hundreds" of migrants into the Eurotunnel terminal in France have become a nightly occurrence, the cross-channel rail operator has said. Passenger and freight services were hit by delays on Friday as the firm tried to run services during one of the busiest days for summer holiday travel. Eurotunnel said police were being called each night to remove migrants from its Coquelles base. It is thought there are now about 5,000 migrants in Calais. Eurotunnel said the migrant activity was well-organised and planned, and people were so desperate to reach the UK they were prepared to throw themselves at trains travelling at 90mph. A company spokesman said hundreds of people were being removed from around the terminal perimeter, the railway or platforms each night. The spokesman said: "We're dealing with people traffickers working together to create diversions and distract security. It's well-organised, co-ordinated activity." On Thursday, the body of a teenager was found on a train at the Eurotunnel terminal in Kent. The overnight activity coincided with a peak-time holiday weekend as the rail operator dealt with heavy passenger and freight demand. The spokesman said Eurotunnel had to reform its timetable each morning after migrant activity and on an ordinary day could absorb delays quickly - but that was not possible at peak times. Talks were being held by MPs, Kent County Council, Kent Police, cross-channel operators and hauliers in Maidstone on Friday on how to deal with disruption. Earlier, Kent Police said Operation Stack - when French-bound lorries park on a closed section of the M20 to await crossings - was likely to remain in place until Sunday. The motorway is closed to all but freight between junctions eight and 11.(FA)

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