Migrant killed by Channel Tunnel train

A young African was killed by a freight train near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France, a local official said.

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A young African was killed by a freight train near the entrance to the Channel Tunnel in France early Thursday in the latest death of a migrant trying to reach Britain, a local official said.

“A migrant was hit by a freight shuttle at around 2.00am (00.00 GMT) on the tunnel site,” the official said, adding the victim was probably from Eritrea or Sudan.

At least 10 migrants have died in or near the tunnel since late June.

Around 3 000 migrants, mostly from Africa, Afghanistan and Syria, are camped in the French town of Calais near the Channel Tunnel entrance.

They have made repeated attempts to reach England, often by trying to enter the tunnel or climb onto lorries.

In July, Eurotunnel said 2 000 attempts a night were being made to get into the tunnel, but new fences erected around the tracks, as well as a beefed-up police presence, have greatly reduced the number of intrusions.

AFP