Illegal immigrants injured in train jump

LONDON (Reuters) -- Three illegal immigrants were being treated in a British hospital on Friday after a group leapt from a freight train from France inside the Channel Tunnel.

The British immigration service said it is questioning the stowaways, at least three of whom are from Bangladesh.

A Home Office spokeswoman said the immigration service learned 10 had jumped from a freight train in the early hours of the morning.

Two of the group, whose nationalities were not known, were taken to hospital with suspected broken limbs.

Several hours later, three Bangladeshi nationals who managed to get out of the tunnel were discovered by police.

One had serious head injuries and was in a hospital.

The incident, which caused delays to Channel Tunnel train services, is likely to stir new debate about asylum-seekers following the deaths of 58 illegal Chinese immigrants, found in the back of a truck at the British port of Dover in June.

The tragedy put the spotlight on Britain's immigration policy, which is being tightened to deal with the growing number of people fleeing their homes for a safe haven or a better life in Western Europe.

The number of applications in Britain rose to 75,000 for the year ended February 2000 from just over 49,000 the previous year.

The London-based Refugee Council called for European countries to open their doors to illegal immigrants who were desperate.

"This incident is further evidence of the virtual impossibility for asylum-seekers to enter Britain legally, meaning they are resorting to measures which endanger their own lives," a spokeswoman said.

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