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Chris Radburn/PA

One killed, at least four injured on French motorway in cross-border police chase

Belgian police had tried to check a car at a parking area known to be used by people smugglers when it took off across the border.

A CAR CHASE between Belgian police and suspected people smugglers today left several injured in a morning of chaos on a northern French motorway, official sources said.

At least three road accidents, one of them fatal, were reported on the A16 motorway near Dunkirk and Calais on the northern French coast — jumping-off points for many migrants and refugees trying to reach Britain.

The first was a minor crash around 5.40am, in which no one was badly injured.

But shortly afterwards, a police chase reached the scene and led to a more serious crash.

France Bleu reports shots were fired before Belgian police began their chase, but officials did not confirm this.

Injuries

Four people had fled across the nearby Belgian border after police tried to check their car at a parking area known to be used by smugglers.

All four people in the suspect car were injured in the crash, two of them seriously. Police said they were foreigners, but gave no more details. The Dunkirk prosecutor said one had identified himself as Iraqi.

The prosecutor said police had been alerted by drivers after the men were seen trying to smuggle people aboard lorries in the parking area.

“They fit the classic profile of smugglers,” the prosecutor said.

As traffic backed up along the motorway, yet another accident was reported shortly afterwards, and local authorities said a motorcyclist had been killed after colliding with a heavy goods lorry.

- © AFP 2016.

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    Mute Big bad bull
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    Mar 1st 2020, 1:59 PM

    I need some sun and 15 degrees would do!!

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Mar 1st 2020, 2:23 PM

    @Big bad bull: yes and a boat

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    Mute Etherman
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    Mar 1st 2020, 3:20 PM

    Excellent result. Red warning worked well with a very positive public response. No major incident or anyone hurt in Galway during the storm.

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    Mute Wiggy Wigsters Fitness
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    Mar 1st 2020, 2:33 PM

    A slight breeze and it’s panic buying in shops lol

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    Mute Thomas O' Donnell
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    Mar 1st 2020, 6:06 PM

    @Wiggy Wigsters Fitness: 130km/h is a slight breeze?

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    Mute Angela Godfrey Maher
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    Mar 1st 2020, 10:58 PM

    Why cant they build canals or aqueducts to 5ake away the water or even irrigation like the ancients did . I cannot understand why .I feel so sorry for the people in th the West they have been Battered ? Please somebody come up with a proactive solution to solve this on going crisis .❤❤❤

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    Mute David Walsh
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    Mar 1st 2020, 8:02 PM

    I dare not ask where they are, bearing in mind that they are about 20 minutes drive from my house here in Dublin

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    Mute Jimmy Brandon
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    Mar 1st 2020, 3:01 PM

    The met office idiots should all be sacked.

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    Mute David Walsh
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    Mar 1st 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Jimmy Brandon: For what? Predicting correctly that high wind and rain were due across Ireland, and especially on the Atlantic coast, over the last few days?

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    Mute Joe
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    Mar 1st 2020, 3:13 PM

    @Jimmy Brandon: why? What did they get wrong?

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    Mute Jimmy Brandon
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    Mar 1st 2020, 3:38 PM

    @Joe: predicting snow for the last 2 months on east coast. Have not seen any this year. A monkey in the zoo could predict wind and rain on the west coast as it is almost a daily event.
    Incompetent bunch of idiots.sack them all.

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Mar 1st 2020, 4:03 PM

    @Jimmy Brandon: you ok hun?

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    Mute David Walsh
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    Mar 1st 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Jimmy Brandon: True.

    I guess that the white stuff on the hills on 3 Rock Mountain and Kippure was painted on Evelyn Cusack and Michael Cleary, while the cold white bits falling from the sky were drips from their brushes and that Sally Gap was closed to motorists to help cover up the conspiracy.

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    Mute Jimmy Brandon
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    Mar 1st 2020, 6:14 PM

    @David Walsh: none of the areas you mention are on the east coast. So you are also an idiot.

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