Tensions are escalating on the northern coast of France as violent clashes between migrants and law enforcement become increasingly frequent. Tear gas, baton blows, and stun grenades have become a common sight on the beaches and even in nearby coastal towns, as migrants clash with police and local residents. The violence, which has surged in recent weeks, is raising concerns among residents and aid organizations alike.
This week alone, there were three major incidents, with one clash resulting in ten cars being stoned after an aborted migrant boat launch. A resident of Grand-Fort-Philippe captured one such event on video, showing a group of men heading toward the seafront in the early morning hours, only to be driven back by tear gas and a stun grenade deployed by police.
The violence is symptomatic of a broader crisis. Migrants, desperate to cross the Channel and reach the UK, gather on these beaches to launch small boats, despite the increasing danger and intensified police efforts to stop them. Salomé Bahri, coordinator of the Utopia 56 migrant aid association in Grande-Synthe, laments, “The baton blows, the tear gas attacks, the punctured boats… This is nothing new. What is new is the recurrence and intensity of the violence.”
Local officials, too, are sounding the alarm. Sony Clinquart, mayor of Grand-Fort-Philippe, described the situation as “urban guerrilla warfare” and called for urgent action. “The emergency has been ongoing for years all along the coast,” he said, adding that residents are feeling increasingly unsafe.
The violence is not limited to the beaches. In recent days, clashes have spread into residential areas. On Tuesday, August 13, Andy, a resident of Grand-Fort-Philippe, witnessed a violent confrontation between around fifty migrants and police just outside his home. Tensions have increased a notch,” he noted, explaining that while the police response used to be confined to the seafront, it is now spilling into the village.
The escalating violence has left residents feeling increasingly threatened and anxious. Pierre-Marie, another local resident, described the sounds of “screams, yells, explosions” in the middle of the night, adding that the situation is stressing out the entire neighbourhood. Josette, a 60-year-old resident, expressed similar concerns, saying, “Unfortunately, in Grand-Fort-Philippe, things are getting heated.
Aid workers are also worried about the growing violence. Bahri notes that many migrants are returning from their failed crossing attempts “injured, in shock, and smelling of tear gas.” Even volunteers have been subjected to violence. On Friday, August 2, two Utopia 56 volunteers reported being physically assaulted by police during a nighttime patrol.
Despite the intensified police efforts to stop the crossings, the number of attempts continues to rise. Migrants, undeterred by the dangers and the increasing repression, remain determined to reach the UK. We just want to get out of here,” said Ahmed, a young migrant living in the Grande-Synthe camp. Despite four failed attempts, he is resolute in his desire to cross the Channel.
For aid organizations like Utopia 56, the solution lies not in repression but in providing a dignified reception for migrants. “If people could apply for asylum here, have access to fundamental rights, perhaps they would try to cross less and risk their lives,” Bahri emphasized.
As the violent confrontations continue to grow in frequency and intensity, both residents and humanitarian workers are left feeling abandoned by the authorities, with no clear solution in sight. The situation remains tense, with the risk of further violence looming large over the coastal towns of northern France.
