Hundreds of migrants waged a turf war on a Paris street overnight, as rival African gangs used makeshift clubs to beat each other bloody.
Africans, mostly from Sudan, Libya and Eritrea, battled with migrants from Afghanistan over turf early Wednesday.
Residents say about 2,500 “asylum seekers” were bused out of the area weeks ago, but many returned after the Calais Jungle migrant camp was closed last month.
The migrants wore hoodies and wielded sticks to beat each other as terrified Paris residents looked on.
The once peaceful neighborhood, in Paris’ 10th Arrondissement, was a tourist attraction bustling with shoppers and diners and a lively nightlife.
“Life here has become unbearable. More than 2,500 squatters were evacuated in September, and now, less than two months later, they’re back,” said Marie, who lives near the migrant camp. “And now that the ‘Jungle’ camp has been closed, things are about to get even worse.”
Another local resident, Monique, told Le Figaro: “The streets are littered with rubbish and faeces. We can hear blood-curdling screams coming from the camp in the middle of the night. ”
Faisal, a shopkeeper in Stalingrad where migrants pitch tents in the street, says, “The stench of urine, faeces, and rubbish has made Stalingrad an insalubrious place to live… People are afraid to go out and lock themselves in.”
He said his profits have declined due to the migrants.
“I’m making less than €60 ($66 USD) a day. A few more weeks like this and I’ll go bust!”
