A migrant camp in Dunkerque was devastated by a fire on Monday night, as two rival gangs turned on each other, with police firing volleys of tear gas to separate the groups, like reported by telegraph.co.uk.
At least three people were injured in the brawl, which was said to be between Afghan and Kurdish migrants.
Police fired 21 tear gas canisters to break up the battle at the Grande Synthe camp, home to an estimated 1,200 migrants outside the town. A fire broke out around 9pm, and within two hours much of the camp was destroyed, French press reported. Photos on social media showed buildings ablaze in the night sky.
The prefect of Dunkerque had travelled to the site.
The fight and fire represents just the latest trouble for Grande Synthe – a camp designed in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders, and meant to provide humanitarian aid for the many hundreds of migrants left without shelter after the Calais “jungle” was bulldozed in October.
Grande Synthe, initially peaceful, has been the frequent scene of unrest in recent months.
In mid March a fire broke out at a guard house – the previous month, Le Monde reported on concerns that the site was ripe for unrest and fires. In December another fire had swept through the site.
Police intervened at the camp after five men were injured in a fight in early March. Another man was stabbed in November.
By the end of March authorities were in discussions about closing the camp.
“It’s no longer just a question of re-establishing public order” in the camp, said Bruno Le Roux, France’s interior minister, during a hearing at the French Senate.
France will proceed with a “progressive dismantling of the camp which should start as soon as possible,” he said, adding that “we can’t let things continue like this.”
The camp was opened in March 2016, and was designed as temporary housing for migrants. The site consisted of around 300 houses, plus shower blocks, communal kitchens, recreation areas and a medical centre. Access to all the services was free.
The seemingly-insurmountable issue of migrant camps in the north of France has come into sharp focus with the first round of the French presidential elections this month, and far Right champion Marine Le Pen poised to sail through to the second round.
