Two Migrants Die After Boat Sinks in Channel During Crossing Attempt

Two migrants died after their boat sank in the Channel off the French coast during an overnight crossing attempt to the UK. m. near Hardelot beach, south of Boulogne, involving a boat with 65 people. A rescue operation was launched, and officials confirmed the deaths of two female migrants as others tried to board the vessel.

A second migrant boat in the area continued its journey to the UK during the incident. GB News reported that at least 200 migrants were on boats heading to UK waters that morning, with more than 100 already picked up by Border Force vessels after reaching the 12-mile mark.

The boat sinking followed arrivals on Saturday, when more than 360 migrants reached the Border Force processing center in Dover harbor. French police also reported another death in Calais, where an Iraqi migrant died in hospital that morning after being stabbed the previous day. Authorities noted this was the second migrant stabbing in Calais in just over a week.

French authorities stated that three migrants were shot and injured near Dunkirk the previous Wednesday. Officials reported increasing violence among rival groups and against police attempting to disrupt migrant activity. A new agreement signed by the Home Secretary provides £662 million to fund a specialist team of public order officers to address these incidents.