MOSCOW, September 9 (RIA Novosti) – Hundreds of far-right protesters have participated in the anti-immigration demonstration in Calais, organized by Sauvons Calais [ed. Let's Save Calais], nationalist anti-immigration group.
The demonstration was aimed against the presence of 1,500 migrants from Eritrea and other African countries, who come to Calais, France, with an intention to illegally reach the UK.
"We're nationalists and we want to stop the immigrant invasion not just in Calais but in the whole of Europe," Kévin Reche, the spokesman for Sauvons Calais [ed. Save Calais] said Sunday, as quoted by the Telegraph. "The migrants should be deported from French territory and placed in closed detention centres until they can be sent home," Reche added.
Left-wing activists tried to disrupt the anti-immigration demonstration, so the police had to end the confrontation.
The local population is divided on the immigrants' issue, as people blame them for the increase of thefts, robberies and muggings, the Telegraph reports.
The influx of illegal migrants has fueled support for the far-right and the criticism of the socialist government of President François Hollande, as well as the British government.
The mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, has demanded that London should get involved and help Calais to fight the issue, when approximately 250 illegal migrants attempted to board the ferry sailing for Dover, UK, on September 3.
The problem of illegal migrants planning on entering the UK through Calais is not a new one. There were riots in 2001 and 2002 when the Sangatte refugee camp in Calais was closed. Since then immigrants again started to arrive to Calais, building camps near the port, hoping to once leave for the UK.
