Freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel was gradually resuming Tuesday after being halted for more than 11 hours when some 200 would-be migrants broke into facilities at the French end, the national SNCF railway company said.
An SNCF statement said freight traffic through the tunnel was halted midnight Monday and gradually resumed at 11:20 am (1020 GMT) Tuesday. Passenger services via the Eurostar service continued normally.
"Traffic was stopped for safety reasons, as the illegal immigrants were at the tunnel entrance, near the rail depot," the statement said.
An official said that between 150 and 200 migrants seeking to board the trains heading to Britain had been detained.
The would-be immigrants were from a controversial Red Cross centre in Sangatte, only a few kilometers from the tunnel entrance. They entered the tunnel at Frethun, located near the Coquelles entrance to the tunnel.
"The majority of those detained overnight are Afghans and Iraqis," a police official said. "In the past week we have noticed an increase in the number of people seeking to go across from Frethun.
"This might be related to the fact that security has been boosted at the Eurotunnel site and as such the would-be migrants try to find weak points where they can get through."
Police said some of the illegals had managed to board freight trains and authorities were checking each train heading to Britain.
The presence of a holding centre for would-be immigrants to Britain only three kilometers (two miles) from the tunnel entrance has caused friction between France and Britain -- CALAIS, France, (AFP)
