A demonstration occurred in Portsmouth after 140 migrants arrived on the British coast following a lengthy ten-hour journey across the English Channel. The group traveled on a single overcrowded vessel that departed from the Bay of the Seine in France, a location significantly further from the typical departure points near Calais. This shift in route is reportedly a reaction to increased enforcement measures by French authorities against human smuggling operations. Throughout the transit, the boat was monitored by French rescue services before being intercepted by the UK coastguard and lifeboats near the Isle of Wight upon entering British waters. The migrants were subsequently brought to shore in the vicinity of Portsmouth. The resulting public protest, which drew hundreds of participants, has faced criticism for its intimidating nature as tensions surrounding small boat arrivals continue to rise in the United Kingdom.
Source : The National
Photo : The National
Aussi couvert par : South China Morning Post
