A migrant was hacked to death in the Calais Jungle last night when 200 UK-bound refugees from rival African and Afghan gangs clashed in a vicious battle.
The bloodbath took place in the early hours as the men fought running battles in the giant shantytown, and by the A16 motorway nearby.
The deceased was described by the French authorities as a 37-year-old Ethiopian who had been hoping to claim asylum in Britain.
The bloodbath took place in the early hours as the men fought running battles in the giant shantytown, and by the A16 motorway nearby
'Two fights broke out close to the camp between African migrants and Afghans between 2am and 4am,' said a source at the local prefecture.
'Knives and batons were being used, causing one death and leaving six other Ethiopians seriously hurt.'
The murder victim – who has not been formally identified – was rushed to hospital by an activist with the No Borders protest group, said the source.
'The Ethiopian died from the wounds,' the source added, saying that riot police immediately sealed off the scenes of the fighting and began appealing for witnesses.
'A murder enquiry has been launched,' said a local police spokesman, saying that detectives were also examining roadside CCTV footage.
The 200 suspects directly involved in the fighting all came from countries such as Eritrea and Sudan, as well as Afghanistan.
Migrants regularly try to get aboard lorries on the A16 motorway, and sometimes start fighting between themselves in the process.
The deceased was described by the French authorities as a 37-year-old Ethiopian who had been hoping to claim asylum in Britain
It came after aid workers warned of a 'pressure cooker about to blow' as the French authorities began tearing down cafes and restaurants in the Calais 'Jungle'.
Charity groups fear that the entire refugee camp in the French port town is about to be destroyed, leaving the migrants with nowhere to stay while they wait to get across the Channel.
Numerous aid groups offering help to more than 6000 men, women and children staying in the camp say the tactics are a recipe for disaster.
A spokesman for L'Auberge des Migrants (Migrant Shelter) said the camp 'is already a pressure cooker about to blow – the situation is extremely tense.'
Rioting frequently breaks out in and around the camp as migrants fight over everything from food supplies to deals with people smugglers.
Natacha Bouchart, the Mayor of Calais, has already warned that the Jungle will be 'torn down' imminently.
In March, demolition experts supported by CRS riot squads dismantled the southern half of the camp.
'Two fights broke out close to the camp between African migrants and Afghans between 2am and 4am,' said a source at the local prefecture. Pictured: The camp from above
The operation involved tear gas and baton charges being used against mainly young men fleeing war and poverty.
Up to 6000 migrants still live in the remaining northern half of the camp, according to the regional prefecture and charity groups.
Now Ms Bouchart says she has received assurances from officials close to Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve that the north side will soon go the same way as the south.
Ms Bouchart Tweeted this month: 'We can't wait any longer, we need to know as fast as possible when and how the Jungle will be torn down.'
Thousands of police and security officials remain deployed around the Jungle, as those living there make nightly attempts to reach Britain.
Favoured illegal routes include stowing away on lorries, or boarding ferries or trains.
There is currently an 'official' camp within the Jungle in which some 1500 people, including women and children, live in a series of converted shipping containers. Another 400 odd mothers with young ones can sleep in the Jules Ferry centre nearby.