One arrest after person found in Channel Tunnel

It is unclear how far they managed to get before being intercepted by authorities

A person has been arrested after authorities discovered them in the Channel Tunnel (Getty Images)

Authorities are believed to have arrested a person who was found inside the Channel Tunnel.

A Eurotunnel spokesperson said a “criminal procedure” has followed the discovery of someone inside the tunnel. 

It is not know have far the person had managed to get before being discovered by the French authorities, who are now handling the matter.

A spokesperson for the Channel Tunnel operator said: “Eurotunnel can confirm that a person was detected inside the Channel Tunnel.”

 They said the person had been taken into custody by the French authorities.

The Eurotunnel spokesperson added: “As there is now a criminal procedure in place we are unable to comment further at this time." 

Reports have suggested the intruder was a man who may have set off on his journey last Monday.

Five years ago, two men were arrested after walking through the Eurotunnel to reach the UK. The men, who were both Iranian, managed to reach Kent after passing through the 31-mile tunnel. 

The incident happened shortly after the Eurotunnel closed the tunnel after a “large and co-ordinated” group stormed the track at Calais.

A couple of months before that, a man was arrested after being found near the exit in Folkestone in Kent.

The Sudanese refugee - who was granted permission to stay in the UK - was handed a nine-month prison sentence in 2016 for “obstructing” trains by walking through the Channel Tunnel while trying to reach the UK. 

Additional reporting by Press Association