BBC on French beach as police slash migrant 'taxi-boat' heading to UK

[riversedge]

Source: bbc


58 minutes ago
Andrew Harding

Ecault beach, south of Boulogne




French police have waded into shallow waters off a beach south of Boulogne and used knives to slash an inflatable small boat - packed with men, women and children - that was wallowing, dangerously, in the waves.

All those onboard clambered to safety as the boat collapsed in chaotic scenes.

The intervention was highly unusual.

French police usually follow strict rules that bar them from going into the sea in case they put lives at risk.

"Let's go in," said one of the gendarmes, pulling off his body armour, and taking out a small knife. His colleagues took their heavy armour off, too, placing equipment in the back of a nearby police car before rushing into the water.......................


Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ygjjxjlplo

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[riversedge]

1. 🚨🎥 WATCH: French police slash a small boat just before it leaves for the UK

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[riversedge]

2. French police puncture migrant boats at sea for first time There has been growing frustration at apparent foot-dragging

Jennifer Thetford-Kay
@JenKteach
·
3h
French police puncture migrant boats at sea for first time There has been growing frustration at apparent foot-dragging by the French, who so far have stopped fewer than 40 per cent of the boats this year, the lowest proportion on record, despite a three-year £480 million Anglo-French deal to combat the crossings.

Until now, the French have refused to intervene in the water because they claim maritime laws prevent them from taking action that could put lives at sea at risk. But French ministers have given permission to do so while “respecting” the “law of the sea”.
https://telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/07/0

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[Igel]

3. Working link.

https://archive.md/Aoa0H

[Martin68]

4. I interpret this as a life-saving action by the French police, forcing the occupants to get out and enter France rather

than risk crossing the channel in a leaky inflatable.