Eurotunnel crossing - beware migrants targetting cars

TopQuark

Just a heads up - we live in Switzerland and drove back to the UK recently to visit family, arriving at Calais around 1am. There were hundreds, if not thousands of illegal migrants in gangs, trying to break into the queue of trucks that had formed on the motorway leading to the terminal. Some even tried to smash the windows of a cab where the truck driver was sitting. Fortunately they didn't attempt to open the doors of our car, but they were pleading with us to let them hide in our vehicle. The situation was quite intimidating and we were worried it might escalate. The police were nowhere to be seen (the French don't want them in France), which didn't help and perhaps encouraged them to be more brazen.


So if you are travelling to the continent this summer, try to time your return crossing during daylight hours to minimise your exposure to this situation. Be especially vigilant if you have a motorhome/caravan/trailer or are on a motorbike, where you are exposed and potentially more vulnerable. Close your windows and lock your doors and boot well before you get to the motorway exit for the terminal (we were targeted in the stationary queue whilst still on the motorway). If you are in a convertible, stop at services further up the motorway and close the roof. This may sound rather over the top, but the sheer number of people (all men as far as we could see), their level of determination and the lack of police meant that we felt extremely ill at ease. They were climbing all over the trucks - on the roofs of the cabs, the trailers, between the wheels etc. and we were very concerned that our car would be next.


I can only imagine it will get worse as the season progresses, as more migrants arrive in the south of Europe and some make their way north.


P.S. sorry for the typo in the title

Widelats

I saw some youtube clips of the migrants there were around 50 of them, i did not know there were now maybe thousands in Calais wanting to get to UK. Daunting, especially if they start smashing windows. That is why they won't get in, they would start smashing things up in UK too if they wanted something and UKIP would win outright in a next election.

If they only knew our streets are not paved in gold and our rain is the same as anyone elses.

DTDfanBoy

It's not only a problem at the entrance to the tunnel, there are a lot more hanging around the port these days.

If there are trucks stopped on the motorway just before the port entrance be aware that there will be migrants hanging around the trucks, so don't go whizzing past at 60mph.

gettingtheresometime

On BBC News now

bylromarha

I took a day trip with my 2 kids and used the tunnel back in February half term.

Couldn't believe the swathes of people lining the motorway and the tunnel entrance looking for a crack to jump in a vehicle. Locking the doors prompted the kids to ask why as we never lock the doors when driving.

I'm glad it was daylight hours which we travelled back in as it felt quite unsafe as it was. Being glared at as you slowly drove past person after person hoping to let themself into your vehicle.

wondercollie

Saw it last year when we were on a coach trip. Just drifting along the roadside in daylight.


Very intimidating and yes, no visible female migrants. Just scores of very angry looking young men

olias

Just travelled dover dunkirk ferry and whilst approaching dover ferry terminal i saw an immigrant drop down from underneath the chassis of a lorry leaving the terminal and run away!

Olias

TopQuark

Some people will always get through - we will never stop them all. North African police do shoot them and it still doesn't stop people trying.

The situation is a hell of a lot worse further South (I work at in international organisation in Geneva and have colleagues from all over the continent). My Greek friend and colleague's aunt moved from her house in Athens to a nursing home a couple of months ago. Since then, it has been broken into and squatted by Syrians. The police say there is nothing they can do. It's a whole-of-Europe problem that needs a whole-of-Europe solution.

InsideInsurance

Came back on the Eurotunnel on Monday 25th May after the bank holiday and cannot say I noticed a single person hanging about let alone have anyone approach our vehicle or appear threatening. Was coming back in the late evening so was pretty much dark by the time we got to the tunnel

TopQuark

I think the fact that it was the middle of the night and mostly trucks rather than private cars that meant it was so much worse, as the migrants primarily target trucks. Also that there was a stationary tail-back of road freighters and no police. We were truly shocked at the sheer number of people and it was intimidating. Great if you manage to avoid any potential problems, but I felt it worthwhile making people aware of the situation we encountered.