Seven-year-old girl killed in English Channel crossing attempt
Al JazeeraFeb 21
Five People Dead in English Channel Small Boat Crossing
Image copyright: Chris J Ratcliffe/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
French authorities have announced that five individuals, including a seven-year-old girl, were killed attempting to cross the English Channel on Tuesday.
Speaking to the press, Pas-de-Calais' prefect Jacques Billant confirmed that 112 migrants had attempted to cross the channel from the town of Wimereux at approximately 5:00 a.m. (local time).
The Spin
Left narrative
Despite countless attempts to convince Sunak and his Tory government that an expensive plan to send a small number of asylum seekers to Rwanda will not deter the tens of thousands who risk their lives to enter the UK, the Prime Minister continues to ignore reality. The longer the UK fails to confront criminal gangs and provide safe routes across the channel for those in need, the more migrants will die.
Right narrative
Despite claiming they had never seen so many migrants on a single boat, French authorities were more than happy to escort 58 individuals across the English Channel. While an effective deterrent by the UK is yet to be established, reports imply that France not only made a minimal effort to halt the tragedies, but rather actively encouraged the misfortune.