Migrants attacked by police and armed 'militias' in Calais, charity says

Migrants as young as 10 have been attacked by French police and armed civilian "militias" in Calais in the past three weeks, a charity has claimed.

The migrants were attacked as they were leaving The Jungle or near the border, leaving two in intensive care with life-threatening injuries.

Charity Care4Calais said eight complaints of police brutality and five against civilian militias have been filed to the French judiciary.

There has been a sudden increase in attacks, with more than 50 incidents reported in the past three weeks.

Victims include a 10-year-old boy allegedly subject to police violence and a 13-year-old who suffered a broken foot and broken nose, Care4Calais' founder said.

Clare Moseley said: "These incredibly worrying claims compound the urgency of unprovoked brutality.

"These refugees have come here because they have no choice. They have fled from horrific circumstances. For these things to happen to them shows a total disregard for humanity."

Officials from the Jungle's legal centre have demanded an investigation by French authorities into the attacks.

The charity Medicin Sans Frontieres (MSF) has treated some of the victims and reported injuries, some life-threatening, including stabbings, broken bones and head trauma.

Dr Marlene Malfait, MSF medical co-ordinator at the camp clinic, said: "Some of the injuries are severe, resulting in fractures, now averaging 12 cases a week."

MSF lawyer Agnes Lerolle said violence from police was "very high" and had remained consistent but attacks by civilians, often wearing hoods, had gone up.