French Riot Police Clash with People-Smugglers Amid Surge in Channel Crossings

French riot police were pelted with stones and targeted with arson tactics by people-smugglers in the coastal town of Gravelines. This is a rare direct confrontation amid ongoing efforts to curb illegal Channel crossings.

The clashes erupted a day after hundreds of migrants evaded French security and boarded small boats to reach the United Kingdom. Early Friday morning, smugglers ignited benches and debris using engine oil and attacked officers with rocks near the River Aa, a known departure site for illegal dinghies headed across the Channel.

File Photo Source: Standard News on X

Dozens of gendarmes equipped with riot shields, automatic weapons, and tactical gear responded with tear gas launched from grenade systems. Makeshift barricades were seen near exit routes used by the smugglers’ so-called “taxi boats.”

Eyewitnesses reported that the smugglers, believed to be of Middle Eastern origin, mocked officers, filmed confrontations on smartphones, and used the chaos as cover to attempt fresh launches. Two men wearing life jackets were seen taunting officers before retreating to camps in nearby Loon-Plage, roughly 15 minutes away.

The violence lasted around 20 minutes before the group dispersed. No arrests were immediately reported.

The previous day, two overcrowded dinghies carrying approximately 70 migrants had slipped past French patrols and crossed into British waters. In one incident, smugglers jumped into the sea before the boat was intercepted and escorted by French maritime police. The smugglers returned to shore without resistance, and no further action was taken.

Despite Britain and France’s joint pledge to intensify border enforcement, the confrontation highlights the increasing boldness of smuggling operations and the limited power local police have to prevent repeated attempts. Migrants continue to gather along the northern French coast, many determined to make the journey regardless of deterrents.

Among those attempting the crossing were families with young children, including a six-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl, as witnessed by reporters during Thursday’s chaotic scenes.