Body of Young Migrant Found on French Beach as Crossings to UK Rise

PARIS (AP) – The French authorities announced the discovery Sunday of a body on a beach used by one of the launch points for migrants attempting the perilous crossing in the northern sea of ​​France in the United Kingdom on fragile inflatable boats.

The prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais region of the north of France said that the body of a young man, “most likely” of a migrant who had tried the crossing during the night, was found on Sunday morning on the long sandy beaches south of the port city of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Crossing attempts and deaths have increased in recent days. The prefecture previously pointed out that two women died on Saturday during a separate attempt to cross the English chain.

In less than 48 hours since Friday evening, the authorities have counted 41 attempts to cross, some of which thwarted, along the Pas-de-Calais coast that the police patrol day and night, the prefecture said in a statement.

“The pressure along the coast is intense with an extremely high number of departures. The police are involved in particularly difficult conditions, marked by the hostility and sometimes the violence of the migrants determined to leave at all costs,” the statement said.

But French police were also observed using knives to reduce and pour the inflatable migrant boats that have implemented little or no resistance.