A migrant boat styled to match the Kurdish flag left from Belgium as Channel crossings resumed, drawing anger from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
A green, white and red dinghy, complete with a Sun in the middle, was seen floating off the coast of Belgium. Dozens of people waited on the boat as several hooded men tried to fire up the engine. Belgian police officers watched on without intervening, despite the vessel being within touching distance.
Farage criticises Belgian authorities
Nigel Farage said: “The boats are now launching from Belgium. The Belgian authorities, like the French, are just standing and watching.”
He added: “This boat is even custom-made to match the Kurdish flag. The gangs are laughing at us.”
Kurdish gangs control smuggling routes
Iraqi-Kurdish gangs are understood to control migrant smuggling operations from Calais to Dunkirk, with territory split according to where the criminals are from, such as Erbil, Sulaimaniya, Ranya and Sharazoor. Criminals from Ranya are said to control a large part of the territory.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
