Man arrested after four migrants die in English Channel crossing attempt
A man has been arrested following the deaths of four migrants who were attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat.
The suspect, a 27-year-old Sudanese national, was detained at the Manston processing centre in Kent on Friday. According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), he is being held on suspicion of “endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK.”
The incident occurred early Thursday morning near Equihen-Plage, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, close to Calais. French authorities say two men and two women were swept away by strong currents while trying to board a small inflatable boat.
Emergency services reported that around 38 people were forced back to shore, while 74 others continued the journey and reached the UK.
The man remains in custody for questioning, while those who successfully crossed are also being interviewed as part of an ongoing investigation. French prosecutors are leading inquiries into the deaths, although the identities of the victims have not yet been released.
Authorities say the migrants were attempting to board what are known as “taxi-boats” — small motorised dinghies used by smuggling networks to pick people up along the northern French and Belgian coastlines before heading across the Channel.
A regional official for Pas-de-Calais said the victims had already waded deep into the sea when they were caught by dangerous currents and pulled away.
Two children were taken to hospital as a precaution following the incident, while another individual was treated for hypothermia.
The tragedy highlights the ongoing dangers of irregular migration routes across the Channel, one of the world’s busiest and most hazardous shipping lanes.
UK authorities have stepped up cooperation with France in recent months in an effort to reduce crossings. Last month, the UK government extended agreements with French authorities to strengthen beach patrols and disrupt smuggling operations.
Migration minister Mike Tapp described the deaths as a tragedy, saying law enforcement agencies remain committed to tackling criminal networks behind such journeys.
“Every death in the Channel is a tragedy,” he said. “We will continue working with international partners to prevent these perilous crossings and bring those responsible to justice.”
