Calais migrants attacked by group ‘dressed as police’ armed with iron bars and AXES
CALAIS authorities have detained five men accused of attacking migrants with iron bars and axes while dressed as police officers.
Violence against migrants in Calais has increased in the past few months
The group, aged between 18 and 48, have been accused of attacking three Syrians by a train station in the northern French town with “iron bars and axes”.
The men “clearly tried to pin their actions on the authorities”, according to a French police source.
The source said: “They haven’t admitted that they were dressed as police, but they have said certain members of the group shouted ‘police’ before the attack to gain the migrants’ attention and that they used batons.”
Walkie-talkies were also found in the men’s possessions during searches upon their arrest, police confirmed.
The gang had gone to Calais “several times to attack migrants” and admitted they assaulted a 13-year-old migrant an hour before the attack on three Syrians on the night of January 20.
Migrants try to climb a fence in their bid to reach the UK
Migrants in Calais want to reach the UK by sneaking onto lorries and trains
The men robbed the migrants of their few possessions, including mobile phones and cash, after assaulting them.
The attackers have continuously denied stealing anything during the assaults, but police said one Syrian attacked on the same night reported a robbery of €4,000 (£3,100).
The men, who have been in custody since Wednesday, appeared in court on Friday after a police investigation into the series of assaults.
Fires break out in Calais 'Jungle' migrant camp
Armed militia armed with clubs, brass knuckles, pepper spray and knives have been targeting migrants in Calais at night, according to accounts from refugees and charity groups.
In February migrants said violence by organised gangs - sometimes dressed in uniforms - had escalated as tensions reached boiling point in the northern French port town.
Last month police arrested seven men armed with iron bars and extendable batons for a suspected attack on five Iraqi Kurds at Loon-Plage, a port town between Calais and Dunkirk.
French authorities have started dismantling part of the Calais migrant camp