British officials have picked up nine migrants who were trying to cross the English Channel aboard an inflatable boat, French authorities said Wednesday, a day after 17 others succeeded in reaching Britain in a stolen fishing boat.
“Overnight towards 4.00 am (0300 GMT), what appears to be an inflatable boat carrying nine people crossed over to England after apparently leaving from Calais” in northern France, maritime authorities said.
A French helicopter was dispatched but the vessel was finally intercepted near Dover by British authorities, they added.
The group included both adults and children, French officials said.
A group of 17 Iranians — 14 men and three minors — had reached Dover on Tuesday after stealing a fishing boat from the French port of Boulogne-sur-Mer and hotwiring it.