Riot police break up fights between migrants in France who were armed with sticks and rocks
Police confirmed ten people have been arrested in connection
RIOT police in Calais have stepped in to break up clashes between around 100 African migrants who were armed with sticks and stones.
Police official, Etienne Desplanques, said the fighting, which pitted Eritreans against Ethiopians, left 16 migrants injured.
Ten people have been arrested in connection with the clash.
Desplanques said: "In all, there are 16 migrants hospitalised, 15 for minor injuries and one with a more serious head injury.
"Riot police had been deployed to separate the fighting between Eritreans and Ethiopians in an industrial zone of Calais, and the situation was brought under control by mid-afternoon."
The port city of Calais has for years been a magnet for migrants and refugees hoping to cross the Channel to Britain and last year France broke up the camp known as "the Jungle" transferring thousands of migrants to centres around the country.
There are currently believed to be between 400 and 600 migrants in the Calais area.
Desplanques confirmed violence also broke out Friday night between Eritreans and Ethiopians while meals were being distributed by charity groups, lightly wounding nine people.
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Security forces used tear gas to break up Friday's brawls, according to deputy mayor of Calais Philippe Mignonet.
He added: "In the past 12 hours, in terms of violence, there's been an escalation."
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