Migrant 'Intrusion' Halts Channel Tunnel Trains

Eurotunnel (Paris: FR0010533075 - news) has suspended all train services between Folkestone and Calais due to a "massive intrusion" of over 100 migrants.

The group broke through fences and stormed the Channel Tunnel in the French terminal at around 12.30am, Eurotunnel said.

A spokesman said: "It (Other OTC: ITGL - news) '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 an in a well-organised manner, broke through the fences and all clearly knew where they were going."

Le Shuttle (Taiwan: 2405.TW - news) passenger and freight services have been suspended "until further notice" because of "safety reasons" - but there are no trains stopped in the tunnel.

British authorities are working with French police to clear the tracks.

It is expected to be hours before services are able to resume because of the large number of people on the tracks.

Affected passengers are able to use their tickets on ferries during the disruption.

"There's nobody (stuck) on trains, there are a small number of passengers affected and customers have gone to the ferry port to continue their journeys," the spokesman said.

Just days ago, a migrant was found dead near the tracks of the Channel Tunnel, after apparently trying to cross from France to the UK.

The Eritrean man, who was in his 20s, was thought to have been hit by a freight train.

Eurotunnel has said it "deplored" the accident, and a spokesman added: "It's another very regrettable incident which serves to highlight the risks associated with crossing the Channel illegally."

He is the 13th migrant to die trying to get to Britain from France since late June - and the second person to die along the route in 24 hours.

Security surrounding the terminals in Calais has been ramped up in recent months - with extra fences erected, and more guards deployed to police the border.

At the peak of the crisis during the summer, there were about 2,000 attempts to board lorries or trains illegally per night - but this number has since fallen.