Ventimiglia "clears out" migrants

  VENTIMIGLIA — With a blitz at dawn, police stormed an area in the pine forest close to the national border in Ventimiglia, which was being inhabited by migrants. The border is now blocked off, and police are proceeding with the eviction of the cliff. 

  It was the Imperia prosecutor who issued the warrant to seize the area of Balzi Rossi pine forest, near the cliff, which has been a symbol of the protest of migrants trying to reach northern Europe, via France, since last July. 

  The police referred to the detention of five identified people. 

  The border with France, managed by the Police Nationale, is now closed at San Ludovico Bridge. 

  The bishop of Ventimiglia, Antonio Suetta, has tried to mediate with the migrants that had positioned themselves on the cliff. He then spoke at length with the heads of the local police. 

  The mayor of Ventimiglia Enrico Ioculano said that their habitation on the cliff had created difficulties and problems in the community of Ventimiglia, a community that had responded well and immediately to the needs of migrants. “We are accused of having cleared the migrants out but it is not like that. We cleared the makeshift camp. It was necessary.”