Early Friday morning in Gravelines, a coastal town in northern France, a dramatic confrontation unfolded between migrant groups and riot police.
The tense scene saw rocks thrown, fires lit on the streets, and a heavy police response as officers tried to stop migrants from launching a boat, likely bound for Britain.
Early Morning Violence Near a Canal
Around 5:30 a.m., police arrived at a canal where a small group of migrants was preparing to set off on an inflatable boat.
Several of the men were wearing life jackets, signaling their intention to cross the English Channel.
What started as an attempt to halt the boat quickly escalated into clashes, with migrants throwing projectiles and lighting fires in the streets close to a local park.
Equipped with shields, helmets, and tear gas, officers from both the Gendarmerie and Police Nationale engaged with the crowd for about 20 minutes before managing to disperse them using tear gas.
Migrants Attempt Dangerous Channel Crossing
Just a day before, footage captured migrants running into the water from Gravelines beach and boarding an overcrowded dinghy.
The video shows dozens of young men desperately clinging to the sides as the inflatable boat pushed off, trying to make the perilous journey across the Channel.
Interestingly, footage also showed the French coastguard handing out life jackets to migrants before they embarked, rather than stopping the boats
No police were visible on the beach as the group set off, highlighting the complicated balance between rescue efforts and border enforcement.
Boats Arrive Under the Cover of Dawn
Witnesses reported seeing one boat drop off several migrants near the sand dunes around 5 a.m., followed by another circling offshore until more migrants gathered on the beach.
Groups, including a family with two children, assembled and tried to board the inflatable vessel.
Approximately 40 people — around half of the total group — departed on the dinghy without interference.
Record Numbers Crossing the Channel in 2025
This year, more than 22,500 people have reached the UK via Channel crossings — a record high for this time of year.
Previous records weren’t broken until mid to late August, including in 2022, which ended with a total of over 45,700 arrivals.
Political Moves to Curb Crossings and Smuggling
Last week, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on a “one in, one out” migrant returns deal aimed at cracking down on these crossings and the criminal gangs behind them.
Early reports suggested that around 50 migrants a week would be returned to France, representing roughly one in seventeen arrivals, although this agreement has yet to be fully finalized.
In addition, Sir Keir met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to discuss plans for tougher laws to disrupt small boat crossings by the end of the year.
The two leaders signed the first bilateral treaty between the UK and Germany since World War II, targeting loopholes that allowed smugglers to use Germany as a base for storing equipment without fear of prosecution.
A Clear Message from European Leaders
Downing Street emphasized that the UK, France, and Germany are sending a united and firm message that they are serious about tackling illegal crossings and dismantling people-smuggling networks.
As Channel crossings continue to rise, the challenge remains urgent and complex for all involved.