The Eurotunnel train tracks (PIcture: EPA)
Eurotunnel has suspended its services after a ‘massive invasion’ of more than 100 migrants surged towards the French terminal.
A ‘large and co-ordinated’ group stormed the tracks in Calais at around 12.30am local time (11.30pm BST), Eurotunnel said.
A spokesman said: ‘It’s a massive invasion and intrusion by a very large and co-ordinated group of migrants. They are being gathered up by the police authorities.’
He added: ‘It’s clearly an organised attack when it comes in such a large number, there are over 100 in this one group. They arrived together and in a well-organised manner broke through the fences and all clearly knew where they were going.’
Services are not expected to resume until at least 10am UK time and passengers have been warned of lengthy delays.
British authorities are working with French police to clear the tracks.
Affected passengers are able to use their tickets on the ferry during the disruption.
A deadly passage
Thirteen migrants have died trying to reach Britain since the start of the crisis in June.
An Eritrean man in his 20s, was killed on Wednesday and is believed to have been hit by a freight train near the tunnel entrance at around 1am.
Early on Tuesday morning a 20-year-old Iraqi man was crushed to death after apparently sneaking on board a lorry to reach the UK.
The HGV driver discovered the body in the back of his vehicle near Calais port as he inspected his load after he was forced to brake suddenly.
An estimated 5,000 migrants displaced from countries including Syria, Libya and Eritrea are believed to be camped in and around Calais.
At its peak, the number of attempts to board lorries or trains was around 2,000 a night – but that has since fallen.
The crisis in Calais is part of a wider migrant surge in to Europe from countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
Eurotunnel has suspended its services after a ‘massive invasion’ of more than 100 migrants surged towards the French terminal.
A ‘large and co-ordinated’ group stormed the tracks in Calais at around 12.30am local time (11.30pm BST), Eurotunnel said.
A spokesman said: ‘It’s a massive invasion and intrusion by a very large and co-ordinated group of migrants. They are being gathered up by the police authorities.’
He added: ‘It’s clearly an organised attack when it comes in such a large number, there are over 100 in this one group. They arrived together and in a well-organised manner broke through the fences and all clearly knew where they were going.’
Services are not expected to resume until at least 10am UK time and passengers have been warned of lengthy delays.
British authorities are working with French police to clear the tracks.
Affected passengers are able to use their tickets on the ferry during the disruption.
A deadly passage
Thirteen migrants have died trying to reach Britain since the start of the crisis in June.
An Eritrean man in his 20s, was killed on Wednesday and is believed to have been hit by a freight train near the tunnel entrance at around 1am.
Early on Tuesday morning a 20-year-old Iraqi man was crushed to death after apparently sneaking on board a lorry to reach the UK.
The HGV driver discovered the body in the back of his vehicle near Calais port as he inspected his load after he was forced to brake suddenly.
An estimated 5,000 migrants displaced from countries including Syria, Libya and Eritrea are believed to be camped in and around Calais.
At its peak, the number of attempts to board lorries or trains was around 2,000 a night – but that has since fallen.
The crisis in Calais is part of a wider migrant surge in to Europe from countries in North Africa and the Middle East.
Metro
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