Anti-terror police carry out dawn raids at hotels in Calais over fears a jihadi cell is operating among migrants trying to reach Britain

  • Three men taken by police in dawn raids on two hotels in Calais
  • Police raid over fears jihadi cell may be operating among migrants
  • More young French Jewish people are heading to Israel than ever before 
  • Comes as terror attacks in France in past two years have targeted Jews 
  • In wake of Paris attacks, French police have been given new powers 
  • Critics say the new emergency powers will isolate and single out Muslims 

By Ian Sparks and Jennifer Newton for MailOnline

Published: 04:05 EST, 24 November 2015 | Updated: 10:52 EST, 24 November 2015

Anti-terrorist police raided two hotels in Calais today over fears that a jihadi cell may be operating among migrants hoping to sneak into Britain.

Three men were taken by police after heavily-armed officers stormed the Hotel Pacific and Hotel du Beffroi in the town centre at 9am.

The operation were part of a nationwide series of raids and arrests over the past ten days in the wake of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris which left 130 people dead. 

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Jewish men walk past Jerusalem's Ottoman Walls, which were lit up red, white and blue in solidarity with France in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. It has been revealed more French Jews than ever are heading to Israel 

Jewish men walk past Jerusalem's Ottoman Walls, which were lit up red, white and blue in solidarity with France in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. It has been revealed more French Jews than ever are heading to Israel 

Officers sealed off surrounding streets in Calais today while border police with sniffer dogs and SWAT teams entered the two hotels.

Guests were lead out of the building and subjected to identity checks before police closed off the buildings.

The owner of the Hotel Pacific told the local Voix du Nord newspaper that police arrested three men in the raid.

He said: 'Three men were taken away by police. They did not offer any resistance.'

Officials would not confirm whether any arrests were made or if weapons and explosives had been seized.  

This follows news that more than twice as many French Jews are heading to Israel in the wake of terror attacks which have targeted them in the country in the past two years.

There have been several terror attacks targeting Jews in France, including a siege at a kosher supermarket, which left four dead 

There have been several terror attacks targeting Jews in France, including a siege at a kosher supermarket, which left four dead 

The charity Birthright Israel, which takes young Jews on trips to Israel, say they have seen an unprecedented increase in French citizens taking part since 2013.

It comes as concern is rising in France that new emergency powers given to police in the wake of the Paris terror attacks to conduct searches without warrants and haul suspects to police stations will isolate the Muslim population.

According to Observer.com 2,500 French Jews will have visited Israel this year as part of the programme run by Birthright Israel.

This is more than double the 1,100 participants who went to Israel last year and a 2400% increase on 2013 when only 98 French Jews took part.

In a statement given to the website, Birthright Israel say: 'Despite having the third-highest population of Jews in the world (behind Israel and the U.S) only a small percentage of Birthright Israel participants have historically come from France.

Amedy Coulibaly, an ISIS extremist, left, carried out the attack on the kosher supermarket, while Mohamed Merah, right, killed seven people in Toulouse at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish day school in 2012

Jewish teacher Tziyon Saadon, pictured, was stabbed in a Marseille street by three men who professed their support for ISIS last week

Jewish teacher Tziyon Saadon, pictured, was stabbed in a Marseille street by three men who professed their support for ISIS last week

'Following the attacks on Jewish targets at the beginning of this year, Birthright Israel increased outreach in France to encourage participation in the programme.'

Since the beginning of 2012, there have been several high-profile attacks against Jewish targets in France. 

In March 2012, Mohamed Merah, a homegrown Islamist militant killed seven people in a series of attacks in southern France in 2012, including three schoolchildren at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish day school.

At the beginning of this year, ISIS extremist Amedy Coulibaly, kidnapped and killed four people in a kosher supermarket in Paris.

There are also links to last week's massacre at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris where 89 people were gunned down, as the theatre has long been owned by Jewish brothers Marcel and Joel Laloux.

Meanwhile in the aftermath of the attacks, Jewish teacher Tziyon Saadon was stabbed in a Marseille street by three men who professed their support for ISIS.

People lay floral tributes outside the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, where 89 people were killed by terrorist. The theatre has long been owned by Jewish brothers Marcel and Joel Laloux

People lay floral tributes outside the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, where 89 people were killed by terrorist. The theatre has long been owned by Jewish brothers Marcel and Joel Laloux

In the wake of the Paris attacks, the French government declared a state of emergency, giving the police extra powers.

On Monday, the French Interior Ministry confirmed already there had been 1,072 police searches, 139 police interrogations and 117 people place in custody.

Those included a weekend raid on a restaurant selling halal burgers and Tex-Mex food in the Paris suburbs, where officers found nothing suspicious after breaking down the doors.

And critics say the emergency measures are isolating the Muslim population as they are being singled out by security services, which is threatening civil liberties.

Daniele Lochiack, an emeritus professor of law at the University of Paris told the New York Times: 'These measures are going to place a spider's web over all of France. But in a discriminatory manner, because it will concern Muslims. 

'It's out of control. What are they going to do with all these people who are under house arrest? The answer, so far, is not clear.

'You've got the feeling that the police can do whatever they want now. We are going to forgo all of the protective rules.'

 

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