Migrants dash off boat... into military firing range: Shooting exercise is halted as emergency search is carried out for two hours
- Migrants ran from boat and disappeared into Ministry of Defence firing range
- They fled straight into the area during a live firing exercise which was halted
- Trying to escape Border Force officers between Dymchurch and Hythe in Kent last Wednesday
Channel migrants ran from a boat and disappeared into a Ministry of Defence firing range during an active shooting exercise.
Firing was abruptly halted as an emergency search for the missing migrants by Border Force and the Ministry of Defence went on for two hours.
When shooting began again after some were caught, four more migrants were seen hidden in undergrowth on the range in Kent, halting the military exercise for a third hour. It is not known if all the migrants were found, a source told the Mail.
The migrants, who were trying to escape Border Force officers on arrival from France, entered the three-mile long coastal range between Dymchurch and Hythe during ‘active firing’ times – advertised publicly online – from 8.30am to 11pm on Wednesday last week.
Firing was abruptly halted as an emergency search for the missing migrants by Border Force and the Ministry of Defence went on for two hours (stock image)
It is thought they ignored or could not read the numerous warning signs surrounded by red flares and bright lights which warn the public not to go into the range during firing hours.
A local who watched the event unfold said: ‘Any of the migrants could have been killed. They were clearly unaware of the dangers of being on MoD land when firing practice was ongoing.’
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On the same day, a record 482 migrants crossed the Channel in 21 boats, according to an official Border Force headcount.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘In the rare event where beach landings do occur, we use aerial surveillance to guide the rapid deployment of officers.’
The MoD firing range is run under strict security regulations to stop accidents.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘In the rare event where beach landings do occur, we use aerial surveillance to guide the rapid deployment of officers’ (stock image)
One of the oldest military firing ranges in the country, it is 200 years old and used regularly for training exercises.
The firing range emergency happened on a record day for migrant landings.
At least 482 succeeded in crossing the Channel in 21 boats that day, according to an official Border Force headcount of those apprehended at sea or, later, on land.
It is not known how many other migrants arrived on the Kent coast and ran from beaches without being found
The official Border Force tally brought Channel migrant arrivals to more than 10,000 so far this year.
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