Migrant boat destined for Britain burns in France as police watch on

by · Mail Online

A migrant boat that was preparing for a voyage over the Channel to Britain has burned at a beach in France.

French police officers were pictured standing next to the burning vessel on Le Portel beach after the failed crossing attempt in northern France this evening.

Two officers were seen carrying an engine seized from the boat away from the flames, while others carried confiscated fuel containers.

Pictures showed the flames had completely destroyed the boat and reduced it to cinders while it was on the sand. 

French police officers were pictured standing next to the burning vessel on Le Portel beach after the failed crossing attempt in northern France this evening
Pictures showed the flames had completely destroyed the boat and reduced it to cinders while it was on the sand
Thomas Chambon, coordinator of Utopia 56 in Grande-Synthe (C), and Nikolai Posner, a volunteer and former Utopia 56 leader, search for tear gas cartridges as the boat burns
Two officers were seen carrying an engine seized from the boat away from the flames, while others carried confiscated fuel containers away

It is not yet clear how the fire was started or if there have been any injuries.

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In the past, French police have used knives to slash inflatable dinghies filled with migrants to prevent the people smugglers from bringing them to the UK.

Pictures from the scene also showed French police trying to extract their vehicle after it got stuck in the sand. 

Meanwhile migrants were seen arriving at Dover Port after being picked up by a Border Force vessel in the English Channel earlier in the day. 

Migration to the UK continues via small boat crossings over the Channel from France. The issue will be high on the agenda for the political parties during the  conference season.

Pictures from the scene also showed French police trying to extract their vehicle after it got stuck in the sand
Meanwhile migrants were seen arriving at Dover Port after being picked up by a Border Force vessel in the English Channel earlier in the day
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to work closer together to dismantle migrant smuggling routes last month

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French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to work closer together to dismantle migrant smuggling routes last month.

The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong, making the crossing on small boats dangerous.

As of September 15, 23,533 people had crossed the Channel this year.

The latest official statistics show that in the year to June 2024, Afghans were the most common nationality crossing the Channel, making up just under a fifth of all small boat arrivals.

Iranians (13 per cent) were the second largest group, followed by arrivals from Vietnam and Turkey, both on 10 per cent.

Around 83 per cent of small boat arrivals in the 12 months to June 2024 were male and (where age was recorded) more than 40 per cent were between 25 and 39 years old.