French riot police armed with tear gas and batons dismantle Dunkirk camp holding 1,200 migrants who want to cross the Channel to UK before Brexit

  • More than 200 gendarmes marched in, under government orders to close camp 
  • Residents of the migrant centre are almost exclusively Kurds from northern Iraq  
  • They are being sent across France and encouraged to apply for asylum 

Squadrons of French riot police descended on a sprawling migrant centre near Dunkirk this morning to dismantle the camp that has become a launch-pad for illegal boat crossings to Britain.

The clearing, ordered by local mayor Martial Beyaert, comes the day after another 38 migrants tried to make it to Britain. 

Armed with tear gas and heavy batons, the heavily-armed officers began clearing the 1,200-capacity encampment at Grande-Synthe near Dunkirk before dawn today.

Bulldozers began tearing down the dozens of tents that migrants had erected in the sports field of the gym at Grande-Synthe.

Squadrons of French riot police descended on to a sprawling migrant centre near Dunkirk this morning to dismantle the 1,200 camp

Squadrons of French riot police descended on to a sprawling migrant centre near Dunkirk this morning to dismantle the 1,200 camp

Bulldozers were brought in alongside the heavily-armed officers to tear down the large migrant camp

Bulldozers were brought in alongside the heavily-armed officers to tear down the large migrant camp 

The wrecked camping equipment was then loaded into a huge skip for destruction

The wrecked camping equipment was then loaded into a huge skip for destruction

French gendarmes stand by tents during the evacuation of the large Grand Synthe migrant camp

French gendarmes stand by tents during the evacuation of the large Grand Synthe migrant camp

The officers arrived armed with tear gas and batons at the Grande-Synthe camp near Dunkirk before dawn today

The officers arrived armed with tear gas and batons at the Grande-Synthe camp near Dunkirk before dawn today

Bulldozers began tearing down the dozens of tents that migrants had erected in the sports field of the gym at Grande-Synthe

Bulldozers began tearing down the dozens of tents that migrants had erected in the sports field of the gym at Grande-Synthe

Earlier police officers in forensic overalls had checked every shelter to make sure no one had been left behind.

The wrecked camping equipment was loaded into a huge skip for destruction. 

The first migrants - a small group of young children - were escorted out of the camp shortly before 8am local time.

A Councillor in France has said a 'perfect storm' of the Dunkirk camp closing, the threat of a freezing winter and Brexit has meant that migrants are more desperate than ever to reach the UK for the October 31 deadline

A Councillor in France has said a 'perfect storm' of the Dunkirk camp closing, the threat of a freezing winter and Brexit has meant that migrants are more desperate than ever to reach the UK for the October 31 deadline

A group of small children were first to be escorted from the camp to be dispersed around France

A group of small children were first to be escorted from the camp to be dispersed around France

There were 1,200 people - mostly Kurds from Iraq - living in the camp before it was torn down today

There were 1,200 people - mostly Kurds from Iraq - living in the camp before it was torn down today

People living at Grande-Synthe have previously told how they want to reach Britain more than ever as the French authorities make them homeless by closing their camp

More than 200 police officers from various forces have been drafted in to take part in the operation. Today they were seen standing around as they began the clearance first phase

More than 200 police officers from various forces have been drafted in to take part in the operation. Today they were seen standing around as they began the clearance first phase

Immigration officials from France's Interior Ministry were accompanied into the centre as part of the operation.

More than 200 police officers from the various different forces - CRS riot police, Gendarmerie Nationale, Police Nationale and Police Municipale - have been drafted in to take part in the operation. 

Groups of migrants - mostly young men, Kurds from northern Iraq - began boarding buses to leave the camp shortly after 8.15am local time.

Government officials disperse the camp residents across the whole of France - often hundreds of miles from the English Channel. 

‘They began evacuating men, woman and children, and then destroying tents and bivouacs,’ said a local charity worker.

‘Many were forced on to buses, which will take them to other parts of France for processing. Many will come straight back to Dunkirk again.’ 

Drivers of the coaches are only told their destination at the last moment. Then they will be displaced to refugee reception centres across France where they will be encouraged to apply for asylum in France.

But migrants have told MailOnline how they will obey police instructions to vacate the camp but will return to the coast within days.

The vast majority refuse to give up their dreams of starting a new life in Britain and will return to the north coast to make fresh attempts to cross the Channel – in the back of a lorry, underneath a Eurostar train or braving the winter weather in a rubber boat. 

'Today we go with the police but we will be back in three days,' said Mohammed from Erbil, Iraq.

'I am here with my wife and daughter so we will not resist. But we will not stop trying to get to England.'

Drivers of the coaches which take migrants away are only told their destination at the last moment

Drivers of the coaches which take migrants away are only told their destination at the last moment

Today's evacuation was ordered by Martial Beyaert, the mayor of Grande-Synthe, and her staff had placed warnings about the ‘imminent evacuation’ around the camp, which had extended into nearby woods and fields

Today's evacuation was ordered by Martial Beyaert, the mayor of Grande-Synthe, and her staff had placed warnings about the ‘imminent evacuation’ around the camp, which had extended into nearby woods and fields

One migrant, a married father of two children, told MailOnline only death would make him stop trying to reach Britain.

'You can only die once,' Saman Ali, said as he sat on a make-shift bench around a wood fire. 'I know it is dangerous to try to cross the sea to England but we will not stop trying.

'I want to give my family, my children a better life and I will do this, or I will die trying.' 

A spokesman for L’Auberge des Migrants (Migrant Shelter) said: ‘Very few of these very vulnerable people want to claim asylum in France, and so they will continue their journeys to Britain.

Migrants prepare to pack up this morning before riot police arrived to take the camp apart

Migrants prepare to pack up this morning before riot police arrived to take the camp apart

More than 200 police officers from the various different forces - CRS riot police, Gendarmerie Nationale, Police Nationale and Police Municipale - were drafted in to take part

More than 200 police officers from the various different forces - CRS riot police, Gendarmerie Nationale, Police Nationale and Police Municipale - were drafted in to take part

‘There were about a thousand people in the camp. Smashing up the modest temporary homes they have found will just make them even more desperate, and so they will take even more risks with urgent trips across the Channel.’  

Mr Ali, one of dozens of parents with young children at the sprawling camp at Grande-Synthe, fled Iraq after ISIS overran their village.

He lived with his family in Turkey for several years before embarking on their epic trip to Britain. And he vowed never to stop trying.

People traffickers are believed to have infiltrated the camp at Grande-Synthe demanding thousands of pounds to organise illegal crossings to Britain.

One man, known as 'the boss', is rumoured to be charge of the growing number of boat crossings.

Government officials disperse the camp residents across the whole of France - often hundreds of miles from the English Channel. A family is pictured being removed from the camp

Government officials disperse the camp residents across the whole of France - often hundreds of miles from the English Channel. A family is pictured being removed from the camp 

‘They began evacuating men, woman and children, and then destroying tents and bivouacs,’ said a local charity worker

‘They began evacuating men, woman and children, and then destroying tents and bivouacs,’ said a local charity worker

He orders passengers to take taxis to remote spots along the coast in the middle of the night. The migrants, who often include small children, must then walk several miles where an inflatable rub is ready and waiting.

Setting off in pitch darkness the passengers are ordered to navigate by the moon and use their mobile phones to call for help if they get into distress.

Migrant welfare groups have condemned the camp eviction claiming it would not stop people trying to reach Britain but would simply make their conditions worse.

Claire Moseley, of Care4Calais, said: 'The migrants will be taken to reception centre away from the coast. They will be encourage to apply for asylum in France but most won't. The vast majority will be back at the coast within days. But they will be living in terrible conditions.'

Migrants have told MailOnline how they will obey police instructions to vacate the camp but will return to the coast within days

Migrants have told MailOnline how they will obey police instructions to vacate the camp but will return to the coast within days

Many migrants that MailOnline spoke to said that they want to get to the UK soon now that their camp has been closed down

Claire Millot, of charity Salam, added: 'Closing the camp does nothing to stop migrants trying to reach England. It only makes people live in terrible conditions and without dignity. It is unnecessary.' 

Today's evacuation was ordered by Martial Beyaert, the mayor of Grande-Synthe, and his staff had placed warnings about the ‘imminent evacuation’ around the camp, which had extended into nearby woods and fields.

Most residents were Iraqi Kurds fleeing there homeland, according to local charities who have been providing tents, food, and medical faciliites since January.

A spokesman for L’Auberge des Migrants (Migrant Shelter) said: ‘Very few of these very vulnerable people want to claim asylum in France, and so they will continue their journeys to Britain'

A spokesman for L’Auberge des Migrants (Migrant Shelter) said: ‘Very few of these very vulnerable people want to claim asylum in France, and so they will continue their journeys to Britain'

Many migrants are prepared to risk their lives for the chance of a better existence in England and refuse to stop trying

Many migrants are prepared to risk their lives for the chance of a better existence in England and refuse to stop trying

It was in 2016 that the so-called ‘Jungle’ camp was destroyed by French riot police on the orders of the government.

It had housed up to 8000 migrants at a time, most of them seeking to start new lives in the UK.

Now any attempt to build a camp on the northern coast is invariably met by police, who raze it to the ground.  

Officers from the various different forces - CRS riot police, Gendarmerie Nationale, Police Nationale and Police Municipale - have been drafted in to take part in the operation

Officers from the various different forces - CRS riot police, Gendarmerie Nationale, Police Nationale and Police Municipale - have been drafted in to take part in the operation

Yesterday saw 29 migrants - including five minors - make it into Britain in three separate incidents, while a group of nine were picked up on French waters trying to cross the Channel.

Border Force officers were alerted to the small boat at 4.30am, with the group being brought in by a cutter.

Eight men, a woman and two minors were picked up on the boat. They all claimed to be Iraqi and Iranian nationals.

They were medically assessed before being taken in to Dover, Kent, for questioning by immigration officials.

Another group was spotted off the Kent coast at 8.30am, and the Border Force cutter Vigilant intercepted it.

A further two minors were on that boat, along with 11 men and three women. The Home Office said their nationalities are not yet known.

One of the women was seen carrying a handbag as she was escorted through the Port of Dover, while others were seen wrapped in blankets.

In a third incident, Sussex Police picked up a woman and a minor on Fairlight Beach in Hastings, East Sussex. Their nationalities are not yet known and they are with immigration officials.

A group of nine migrants were rescued by French authorities yesterday after their boat began taking on water one mile off Cap Gris-Nez, near Calais.

Groups of migrants - mostly young men, Kurds from northern Iraq - began boarding buses to leave the camp shortly after 8.15am local time

Groups of migrants - mostly young men, Kurds from northern Iraq - began boarding buses to leave the camp shortly after 8.15am local time

People traffickers are believed to have infiltrated the camp at Grande-Synthe demanding thousands of pounds to organise illegal crossings to Britain

People traffickers are believed to have infiltrated the camp at Grande-Synthe demanding thousands of pounds to organise illegal crossings to Britain

More migrants are expected to make the life-risking trip across the Channel ahead of the seasons changing, and after another camp of 400 in Calais - a short distance from the former Jungle site - was cleared last week.

The crisis continues after a record 336 made it to Britain in August. More than 1,200 have now made it this year. 

Last Tuesday, 86 migrants successfully crossed the Dover Strait - one of the world's busiest shipping lanes - which is the highest number so far.

On Sunday, two men managed to cross in a kayak, while two migrants - a man and a woman - died at sea last month.

The 48-year-old Iraqi man drowned after trying to swim with diving fins and plastic bottles strapped to him as a makeshift life jacket. His body was found on Belgian waters.

And the woman fell overboard while crossing with a group. Her body was found on Dutch waters weeks later.

The male sleeping area inside the Espace Jeunes du Moulin refuge centre in Grande Synthe, Dunkirk before the eviction began this morning

The male sleeping area inside the Espace Jeunes du Moulin refuge centre in Grande Synthe, Dunkirk before the eviction began this morning

Those people living in the female and family area inside the Espace Jeunes du Moulin refuge centre in Grande Synthe all had to pack their belongings today as they were moved on

Those people living in the female and family area inside the Espace Jeunes du Moulin refuge centre in Grande Synthe all had to pack their belongings today as they were moved on

Pictured is the outside of the Espace Jeunes du Moulin refuge centre that migrants slept in last night before the camp was cleared this morning

Pictured is the outside of the Espace Jeunes du Moulin refuge centre that migrants slept in last night before the camp was cleared this morning

It is feared more migrants will try to make it over before the seasons change. 

A Home Office spokeswoman said: 'Crossing the Channel in a small boat is a huge risk. The criminal gangs who perpetuate this are ruthless and do not care about loss of life.

'We are working closely at all levels with the French authorities to tackle this dangerous and illegal activity.

British charity Care4Calais condemned the Grande Synthe camp eviction claiming it would not stop migrants risking their lives crossing the Channel in small boats. Pictured is the female and family area inside the refuge centre

British charity Care4Calais condemned the Grande Synthe camp eviction claiming it would not stop migrants risking their lives crossing the Channel in small boats. Pictured is the female and family area inside the refuge centre

'In addition, Border Force cutters are patrolling the Channel and we have deployed equipment to detect migrant activity.

'Last month the Home Secretary and her French counterpart agreed to intensify joint action to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel.

'This includes drawing up an enhanced action plan to deploy more resources along the French coast to intercept and stop crossings.'   

British charity Care4Calais condemned the Grande Synthe camp eviction claiming it would not stop migrants risking their lives crossing the Channel in small boats.

Spokeswoman Claire Moseley said: 'Continual forced evictions don't effect the underlying issues that cause people to risk their lives crossing the Channel; even the total destruction of the Calais Jungle in October 2016 has not stopped this from happening.

'What they do is to further abuse some of the most vulnerable people in society - people who are already severely traumatised and who are desperate to protect their families.

'The men, women and children that we talk to every day do not want to take these risks; all they want is for their asylum claims to be heard.

'If there was a safe and legal way for this to happen it would stop them from risking their lives and stop people smugglers from being able to prey on them.' 

Another group of migrants was spotted off the Kent coast at 8.30am yesterday, and the Border Force cutter Vigilant (pictured) intercepted it

Another group of migrants was spotted off the Kent coast at 8.30am yesterday, and the Border Force cutter Vigilant (pictured) intercepted it

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