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Refugees clash with French police as demolition workers tear-down Calais camp

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The make-shift camp on the edge of Calais known as the “Jugle” witnessed clashes between refugees and French police as demolition officers numbering about 20 moved in to start pulling down structures in the camp deemed not fit enough for inhabitants.
French riot police and migrant officers had a hard time carrying out the demolition order by French authorities  as police fired tear gas canisters at residents of the camp who protested the raid by about 20 demolition workers who moved in to carry out the tear-down order.
According to AFP news agency, about 150 of the camp’s inhabitants (some wielding iron bars) pelted vehicles heading for England on a port road which runs next to the camp with stones in protest of the demolition.
Read also: France serves final eviction order to migrants in Jungle camp
Police also had a tough time dealing with a group of activists who had formed a security cordon to protect the tear-down operation, with police personel firing tear gas with no injuries recorded and three arrests made.
Reports say about 20 makeshift huts were set ablaze by protesters in an angry backlash as the demolition workers, guarded by a good number of French policemen began pulling down structures on the camp.
“You can see that the protesters didn’t hesitate to set fire to tents and shelters or to throw stones at police,” Etienne Desplanques, a regional government cabinet director, told Al Jazeera.
“It’s not acceptable, and it’s normal that we’re going to restore security,” Desplanques said.

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