A man carrying a knife threatened migrants before climbing aboard a dinghy headed for the UK, as attempts to cross the Channel resumed after a three-week pause.
Footage captured by the Press Association shows the man moving towards the boat in waist-deep water while holding a knife, as a man on the vessel tried to strike him with a boot. As the man in the water drew his arm back, he appeared to drop the knife into the sea and shortly afterwards boarded the UK-bound boat. A shout of “I will kill you” was heard, with French rescue boats hovering in the background a short distance away.
Arrivals resume after longest pause of the year
Some 263 migrants arrived in the UK on Thursday, according to the Home Office, as crossing attempts continued after a 21-day break — the longest gap in arrivals so far this year, attributed to high sea swell and wind in the Channel. Several children were among a large group of people wearing life-jackets who were brought ashore in Dover, Kent, as calmer conditions returned.
After three boats successfully crossed, the total number of arrivals for 2026 stood at 21,198, Home Office figures show. This is down 43% on the same point last year (36,954) and 29% below the figure at this stage in 2024 (29,867). With just over two months of the year remaining, and crossings typically lower during late autumn and winter, the data suggests the 2026 total is unlikely to surpass the figure for 2025.
Boat painted in Kurdish flag colours
One 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 whether it was among the vessels that successfully crossed the Channel. Iraqi Kurds are believed to be key players in Channel dinghy crossings.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said on X: “We now have gangs painting the boats their national colours. They are taking the piss. 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 crossings
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.
