Riot police clash with migrants as camp in Paris is flattened

Demolition workers supported by riot police today began smashing up an illegal camp full of UK-bound migrants in Paris.

There were scuffles as mainly Afghans and Eritreans tried to save their possessions during the raid, which started soon after 8am.

It followed thousands of migrants arriving in the French capital following the razing of the Calais Jungle refugee camp last week.

While some 5000 Jungle residents agreed to be bused to resettlement centres around France, many others headed off independently, saying they still wanted to get to Britain.

Up to 3,000 set up tents on the pavements around the Stalingrad Metro station, which is close to the Gare du Nord Eurostar hub in the north of Paris.

Shortly before today’s clearance French president Francois Hollande said: “We won’t tolerate the camps any longer.”

Referring to the Paris clearance, Mr Hollande said: “We are going to carry out the same operation as in Calais.”

CRS riot police around Stalingrad said there would be a “gradual operation” which is likely to go on all week until all the camps are gone.

Meanwhile, the first ever official centre for refugees in Paris is due to be opened by the city’s Socialist council later this week.