Disturbances flared in Calais on Thursday as people trying to make their way to the UK from France took part in orchestrated incidents, witnesses have said.

People tried to break the locks and slash open the roofs of lorries that had been forced to slow down in a bid to climb inside, while there were also reports that diversionary tactics were used to draw police officers away from the scene.

“They were attacking vehicles, breaking the locks off trucks, slashing roofs of the lorries and climbing in the back of them,” said Chris Yarsley of the Freight Transport Association, who said he was touring Eurotunnel facilities at the time.

He said that French police were “highly visible and were taking extreme measures to break up the crowds, including using teargas and closing the motorway”. But he said they appeared to be overwhelmed by the number of people.

“We were told of disturbances in the town centre which diverted police attention allowing opportunities for incursion attempts,” Yarsley added.

Eurotunnel spokesman John Keefe said: “It was clearly well organised and orchestrated. And it came on one of the busiest days of the year for freight, with 6,000 to 7,000 trucks around today.

“Opportunity-wise they would have known that and clearly information is out there. The security at the tunnel and the additional police meant they didn’t get to the tunnel.

“It turned out to be a neutral day from our perspective but clearly there was a level of orchestrating behind the events we saw.”

The disturbances came as the Freight Transport Association Ireland reported that one of its members’ vehicles had been damaged by “stone-throwing migrants”.

The windscreen of a lorry belonging to a member of the FTA Ireland was smashed in two places by people throwing stones. Photograph: Freight Transport Association Ireland

The organisation released images of the truck, which it said highlighted the “growing problem of violence towards drivers at the port”.

Neil McDonnell, general manager of FTA Ireland, said: “We understand the terrible conditions under which migrants and asylum seekers are living in Calais. However, nothing excuses violent conduct against freight drivers.

“If this behaviour continues, it is only a matter of time until a confrontation between immigrants and drivers results in serious injury, or worse.”

Yarsley said that the situation in Calais was “totally unacceptable”, claiming that the area was “in crisis”.

He said: “Truck operators and their drivers are in the firing line – sometimes literally. Whatever your views on the plight of migrants and asylum seekers, no one has a right to threaten, intimidate or physically attack drivers and other innocent bystanders.”

The trouble is the latest in a regular series to break out in Calais, where about 6,000 people who have fled war, poverty and persecution are camped at “the Jungle”.



On Wednesday, truckers were again targeted after being forced to slow down by people walking in the middle of the motorway.

Three were spotted climbing on to one lorry’s roof before eventually being coaxed down by a French police officer wielding a baton.

British freight chiefs believe such trouble impacts heavily on the £89bn of UK trade that passes through Calais annually.

There have been repeated demands for the French and British authorities to secure the safe passage of freight, particularly after repeated trouble during the summer.

The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has said that, despite the deployment at Calais of around 1,300 security officials, including CRS riot police and French gendarmerie, it is still not enough to protect drivers.

RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said many truckers now refused to stop within 150 miles of Calais to avoid the “absolute mayhem” caused by some people intent on getting to the UK.