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A photojournalist was threatened by a group of migrants while attempting to document their preparations to cross the English Channel from Gravelines, France. The journalist, who had parked near a known gathering spot for migrants, found themselves surrounded by approximately 25 individuals who warned that they were “upsetting their plans” and threatened violence if the journalist did not leave the area.

The journalist had been observing the group, estimated to be around 300 people, as they prepared to embark on a dangerous journey across the Channel in small boats. The situation quickly escalated when the group confronted the journalist, making it clear that their presence was unwelcome.

I was hoping to identify the specific beach where they were planning to launch, but within moments, I was surrounded,” the journalist said. “They told me in no uncertain terms that I would be ‘fucked up’ if I stayed any longer. It was clear that I had ruffled a few feathers, and the evening was not going to plan.”

The incident highlights the volatile environment surrounding the ongoing migrant crisis in Northern France. The area around Loon Plage and Grande-Synthe is known to be controlled by Iraqi-Kurdish smuggling networks, who have a tight grip on the logistics of boat crossings to the UK. These smugglers, operating with a mafia-like structure, run the camps and ensure that only those who have paid for an “all-inclusive” passage are allowed to attempt the crossing.

Permanent “staff” members, often involved in selling food and cigarettes at makeshift shops, maintain order in the camps. These shops also serve as payment points and hubs for the ever-changing workforce of “little hands”—recruiters and organizers who manage the logistics of getting migrants onto boats and across the Channel.

Despite the hardships faced by those in the camps, one thing unites them: a determination to seek sanctuary in the UK. “They are willing to endure anything to get to the UK, but the situation is far from what many might imagine. Some of these individuals are not just desperate, but dangerous,” the journalist remarked.

The journalist’s experience underscores the complexity and danger of the migrant crisis on the French coast, where the efforts of local police are often hampered by limited resources and conflicting policies. “As a UK citizen, I believe it’s our duty to report on these events, especially given the impact this crisis has on both sides of the Channel,” the journalist said. But the reality is that the situation is fraught with danger, not just for the migrants, but for those trying to document the truth as well.”

The encounter ended without physical harm, but the journalist was left shaken by the aggression they faced. “This evening was enough to remind me that the situation is far more complex and dangerous than it appears. We need to have a serious conversation about who we are letting into our country and the conditions that allow such dangerous crossings to continue.”