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Migrants fight for space on a dinghy in France as nearly 1,000 cross the Channel in two days

Migrants crowded onto a dinghy off the French coast as a man was heard shouting 'I'll kill you' while brandishing a knife during the desperate scramble for places.
Migrants crowded onto a dinghy off the French coast as a man was heard shouting 'I'll kill you' while brandishing a knife during the desperate scramble for places.

Nearly 1,000 migrants made the Channel crossing over a two-day period, ending a three-week halt to crossings, with footage capturing a knifeman threatening to kill a boat pilot on Friday before fighting erupted on a separate dinghy on Saturday. A man wading waist-deep toward an overloaded vessel drew a blade, shouted 'I will kill you' at those on board, then hurled the knife into the water and hauled himself aboard anyway. Home Office figures put total small-boat arrivals in 2026 at 21,869.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp savaged the government: 'The boats keep coming, the smugglers keep operating and Labour keeps making excuses.'

Saturday's brawl shows migrants throwing punches at those already aboard, nearly capsizing the dinghy, with some holding children during the chaotic boarding.

Tories say Labour has 'lost control of our borders' after the surge ended the longest pause in arrivals this year, caused by three weeks of rough seas and high winds.

MoreThe SunFootage shows migrants fighting on dinghy 24 hours after knifeman threatened to kill pilot - as 1,000 hit UK in two days - The SunDaily Mail NewsViolent migrants attack each other in their desperation to cram into small boats headed for UK after 671 arrived yesterdayEvening StandardNearly 1,000 migrants cross Channel in two days after three-week pauseexpress.co.ukAndy Burnham humiliated as almost 1,000 migrants cross the Channel in just two days - Daily ExpressThe IndependentNearly 1,000 migrants cross Channel to the UK in two days after three-week pauseLondon Business News‘Labour is too weak to stop the boats’: Border crisis explodes as 934 land in Britain in two days - London Business News
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