A man armed with a knife was filmed threatening migrants before boarding a dinghy bound for the UK off the coast of Hardelot in France. Footage shows the man moving through waist-deep water toward the boat while holding the weapon.
A person on board attempted to strike him with a boot, and the man in the water drew his arm back, apparently dropping the knife into the sea. Moments later, he boarded the vessel. A shout of "I will kill you" was heard as French rescue boats hovered in the background a short distance away.
Channel Crossings Resume After Three-Week Pause
Thursday saw 263 migrants arrive in the UK following a three-week hiatus, the longest break this year, which occurred amid high sea swell and wind in the Channel. One of the boats was customised in the colours of the Kurdish flag - red, white and green. Among the large group wearing life jackets were several children, who were brought ashore in Dover, Kent.
After three boats successfully crossed, the total number of arrivals for 2026 stood at 21,198, according to Home Office figures. This is down 43 per cent on the same time last year (36,954) and 29 per cent below the figure at this stage in 2024 (29,867). As crossings are typically lower in autumn and winter, data suggests the total for 2026 is unlikely to surpass the 2025 figure.
Kurdish Flag Boat and Political Reaction
A boat that launched from Belgium on Thursday was reportedly coloured red, white and green with a golden sun emblem of the Kurdish flag. It is not clear if it was one of the boats that successfully crossed the Channel.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said on X: "We now have gangs painting the boats their national colours. They are taking the p***. We’re being invaded from Calais, Normandy – and now Belgium too. I will deploy the Royal Navy and stop the boats forever."
Downing Street said it was not aware of the specific dinghy. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: "We are not complacent. We know that there’s more to do. I haven't seen that particular incident, but as the Prime Minister has said, we know there’s more work to do, and we’ll work with international partners."
Government Response and Ongoing Efforts
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We have made progress tackling the small boats. Crossings are down significantly, and we have just recorded the lowest number of summer arrivals since 2020. Joint efforts with international partners have prevented over 50,000 crossing attempts and seized 1,100 boats and engines since the election. But we must go further. That’s why we are boosting the number of officers on the ground in France and removing the pull factors drawing people here through illegal and dangerous routes."
At least two boats were seen by the Press Association leaving the French coast in the early hours of Friday.
