2018 Calais migrant violence
On 1 February 2018, fighting broke out between two groups of migrants in the French port city of Calais. The fighting left five people with gunshot wounds and another 17 with other injuries, including stab wounds.[3]
  Location of Calais within France | |
| Date | 1 February 2018 |
|---|---|
| Time | 3:30 p.m. (GMT+1)[1] (first incident) |
| Duration | 2 hours (first incident) |
| Venue | Calais |
| Location | Calais, France |
| Coordinates | 50.9513°N 1.8587°E |
| Type | Fighting, Shooting |
| Cause | Disagreement between rival groups of Afghan and Eritrean migrants.[2] |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 22, 4 Critical[3] |
Incidents
Multiple separate incidents occurred across Calais during the afternoon of February 1 following unrest between two migrant groups at a food distribution point.
City outskirts
This incident is believed to have started on the city's southern outskirts near a food distribution point while migrants were queuing for food hand outs.[3] Fighting broke out between two groups of migrants which included around 100 Eritreans and 30 Afghans and lasted about two hours. Shots were fired during the fighting leaving five people with gun shot wounds, four of them critically injured including one who was shot in the head.[4] Local officials and police believed that a 37 year-old Afghan man was responsible for the shootings.[1]
Industrial site
This incident occurred around 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) away from where the first incident broke out, and between 150 and 200 Eritreans and 20 Afghans clashed with iron rods and sticks. The fighting led to three people sustaining head injuries apparently from metal bars used in the clashes.[4]
Old 'Jungle' Camp
Further fighting broke out later in the day at a food distribution point near the old Jungle Camp. The fighting was again Afghan and Eritrean migrant groups. The number of injuries from this incident was not reported.[2][3]
Victims
There were no fatalities due to the incident, however 22 people were reported injured, four of them critically. The critical injuries were understood to have been caused by shootings and included head, chest, abdomen and spinal injuries.[3][4]
References
- "Five migrants shot and wounded in huge Calais brawl". NEWS WIRES. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- "Several shot & dozens injured as 100+ migrants face off in bloody clashes in Calais". 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- "Calais migrants: Five shot in mass brawl". 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- "Four migrants shot in Calais as police break up fight after meal distribution". 2 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.