Intrusion by large group of migrants stops Eurotunnel service overnight

 By 
Liza Hearon
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

LONDON -- Eurotunnel passenger service between France and the UK was gradually resuming Saturday morning after being suspended overnight due to an intrusion of their French terminal by more than 100 migrants and refugees.

A large group "arrived together in a well-organised manner, broke through the fences and all clearly knew where they were going," a Eurotunnel spokesman said.

The rail company said several staff members and two police officers were injured as people threw stones and ran through the terminal, at around 12:30 a.m. local time.

Services were suspended while French police and British authorities removed people from the tracks and the area.

Eurotunnel said Saturday that services, which transport passengers and their cars on its trains, were resuming but it would take time to get back to a full schedule. Eurostar said Saturday that its passenger services were running as normal.

Our Passenger service is now resuming; delays can be expected; once we have a better picture, info will be published here. ^LD— Eurotunnel LeShuttle (@LeShuttle) October 3, 2015

Passengers experienced delays and tried to use the ferry to cross over instead.

Now out of tunnel and back to terminal. Awaiting ticket swap before heading to Dover for ferry #eurotunnel saying 6 hr delay possible.— Andy Smith (@AndySmithTV) October 3, 2015

Around 3,500 people displaced from countries like Syria, Libya and Eritrea are living in a makeshift camp known as the "Jungle" outside Calais in northern France. Over the summer, about 2,000 people were trying to reach the UK via the tunnel each night.

Authorities have increased security but hundreds still attempt the journey nightly. Thirteen people have died trying to reach the UK since late June.

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