Police hunt gang of ARMED Afghan illegal immigrants 'who shot at two brothers after jumping out of a lorry at Keele services on the M6'

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Two farmers claim they were shot at by illegal migrants trespassing on their property.

Their attackers were among a group of Afghans who smuggled themselves into Britain inside a Hungarian lorry.

Seven were arrested after they jumped from the truck at Keele services on the M6 in Staffordshire. But six got away and were involved in the incident with friends Paul Dale, 35, and Ashley Beech, 20.

The pair spotted the Afghans scaling a boundary fence on Saturday night. They found the six men hiding in outbuildings and gave chase as they ran off through fields.

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A gang of armed illegal immigrants are being hunted by police for allegedly shooting at two brothers after jumping out of a lorry on the M6 Keele services (pictured)

‘When we got to the end of the field one of them decided to shoot at me with a small firearm,’ said Mr Dale, who was driving a pick-up truck. ‘I made that two-ton pick-up fly as I got out of there as quickly as possible.

‘It was quite scary, you do not expect to be shot at. The bullet went straight through the door, straight past me and showered me in glass.

‘It was very close. The main objective was just to get out of there. It was very, very scary.’

Mr Beech said they would not have attempted to stop the men had they known they were armed. Police have not been able to intercept the gang despite calling in helicopters, armed officers and sniffer dogs.

Forensic tests have been carried out on the truck but officers said it was too early to say whether a firearm had been used. Police believe the gang was linked to the men arrested at Welcome Break services, between junctions 15 and 16 of the M6.

All the Afghans were in their twenties or thirties. It is not clear when they entered the UK or how they became armed. Chief Inspector Clare Riley said: ‘Fortunately no one was injured during this incident but we have taken the report seriously and carried out thorough inquiries to trace those involved, sadly with no result.

‘A number of officers have carried out detailed searches of surrounding land, woodland and buildings. They also spoke to residents and carried out checks on three suspicious men but it was established they were not connected to the incident.

‘Colleagues from neighbouring forces and staff at Keele services have been made aware and immigration are dealing with those arrested on Saturday morning.’ 

Residents in the area say they have been stunned to see the heavy armed police presence since the manhunt was launched.

Simon Cotton, 49, said: 'I was driving to pick my son Brody up from fishing with his friends because they were in Keele and my wife Sue was worried about what had gone on yesterday.

Earlier this year, 19 illegal immigrants (pictured) were detained on the M1 after a driver spotted a suspect HGV

'I was very concerned, especially as I still needed to pick up my son.'

Samuel Holmes, 20, said: 'I saw on Facebook this morning about what had happened at Keele.

'I had a feeling something would happen near us, I'd been hearing police sirens for a while.

'It's happened way too close to home.' 

Members of the public are being urged not to approach the men but to report any sightings.

The incident took place at Racecourse Farm on Three Mile Lane – a mile from the M6.

A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: ‘It is thought that six men were involved in an incident with a member of the public near Keele services and one of them discharged a weapon at the member of the public’s vehicle.

‘The men are believed to be linked to the men arrested at Keele services for immigration matters. These men are believed to be from Afghanistan and were in a Hungarian lorry.’

Staffordshire Police are now urging anyone who spots the men to not approach them and to report sightings to them on the 101 number quoting incident 817 of 10 October. 

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Britain saw the third highest influx of migrants across Europe in 2014. International arrivals reached 558,800 last year – a 24 per cent increase on 2013.

The OECD predicts a record million refugees will claim asylum in Europe this year.

Britain has not signed up to an EU-wide quota system aimed at giving homes to refugees who have already reached the continent. Instead, David Cameron has pledged to take in 20,000 Syrians from refugee camps by 2020.

Since 2011, 4,980 Syrians have been granted asylum in Britain.

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