Female migrant believed dead after being ‘deliberately thrown into Channel’ from small boat during crossing to UK
There are fears that a female migrant has been deliberately thrown into the Channel.
The woman was reportedly thrown into the water on Tuesday morning as she attempted to cross from France. She was in an overcrowded small boat.
Forty-eight hours later, there is still no sign of her. Police fear she drowned.
According to local media, the alleged attack is said to have taken place at the Clipon pier in Loon-Plage, northern France, about 30 miles east of Calais.
More than 500 migrants arrived in the UK on Tuesday alone as border guards struggle to contain the crisis, with the total number of migrants now set to rise to 20,000 by 2024.
File photo. Migrants walk through water to board a smuggling boat on the northern coast of France
File. Nearly 20,000 people have arrived in the UK in small boats since the beginning of this year
French emergency services have launched a major search and rescue operation to find the woman who was “thrown” from a small boat, but she remains missing.
A police spokesman said the migrants who remained in the area did not cooperate with the investigation upon arrival.
He said: ‘The authorities do not know whether she returned to the jetty under her own power or whether she drowned.
‘Researchers tend towards the latter option.’
French border police have launched an investigation and are calling on witnesses to come forward.
Authorities came under fire last week after video footage showed border guards ramming an overloaded migrant boat with their speedboat as it set off from Calais.
The migrants were less than 30 metres deep in the sea before they were spotted by a French crew in a speedboat on August 19.
With flashing blue and red lights, the speedboat passed close to the dinghy several times, warning it to turn around and head for shore.
As the sloop continued its journey, the Coast Guard vessel came alongside and appeared to ram the heavily laden migrant ship.
Migrant crossings increased over the summer, in line with annual trends. Last year, a total of 29,437 people arrived in the UK on small boats – down from 45,755 in 2022.
In the year ending June 2024, Afghans were the main nationality crossing the Channel, followed by Iranians, Vietnamese and Turks.
Many of the newcomers are fleeing war or persecution by oppressive regimes, but the perilous journey carries great risks.
About 25 migrants have died this year trying to cross the Channel, French officials say.
With flashing blue and red lights, the speedboat passed close to the dinghy several times, warning it to turn around and head for shore.
As the sloop moved on, the Coast Guard vessel came alongside before appearing to ram the heavily overloaded migrant ship
A Home Office spokesman said last week: “We all want to see an end to dangerous small boat crossings, which undermine border security and put lives at risk.
‘The new government is taking steps to improve our border security. We are creating a new Border Security Command, bringing together our intelligence and law enforcement agencies. We are getting new powers to fight terrorism, with hundreds of staff based in the UK and abroad. Together we will tackle the criminal smuggling gangs that are making millions in profits.’
Labour is said to be in the final stages of recruiting a new boss for Border Security Command.
They report directly to the Home Secretary and are paid up to £200,000 to ‘provide strategic direction for cross-agency collaboration, bringing together the work of the National Crime Agency (NCA), intelligence agencies, police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force’.
About 100 people have already been moved to the headquarters at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where they are determining the tasks and strategic direction of the new command.