Policemen stand guard after a migrant taxi-boat accident, in Equihen-Plage, northern France, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A young boy runs on the beach after at least four people died while trying to board an inflatable boat for a dangerous sea crossing from northern France to the U.K. in Equihen-Plage, northern France. Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
A police officer stands guard after a migrant taxi-boat accident, in Equihen-Plage, northern France. Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
LONDON (AP) — A Sudanese man alleged to have piloted a boat connected to the deaths of four migrants trying to cross the English Channel has been charged under a new British immigration law, authorities said Saturday.
Alnour Mohamed Ali, 27, was charged late Friday with endangering another during a journey by sea to the U.K., the National Crime Agency said.
The new law allows Britain to extend the reach of its criminal jurisdiction to crack down on migrants making the dangerous crossing.
The two men and two women died Thursday in strong currents while trying to board the boat Ali allegedly piloted off the coast of Calais.
French authorities rescued 38 others from the waters. Ali and another 73 migrants then continued on to England, where he was arrested.
The incident occurred at Equihen Beach in Calais as the migrants tried to wade out to what authorities call a “taxi-boat,†typically a small motorized inflatable that picks up people along large stretches of the northern French coast.
The tactic has become more popular with smugglers as police on the beaches try to thwart crossings by puncturing the rafts that groups of migrants have to inflate and carry to the water.
Under maritime law, French police do not try to stop the boats on the water because it put lives at risk.
Recent days have seen a surge in and deaths, with 102 people rescued in two operations on Wednesday. Two people died last week in similar circumstances off the coast north of Calais.
Ali, also known as Elnoor Mohamed Ali, is scheduled to appear Saturday in Folkestone Magistrates Court.
The Associated Press
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Tax: | |
| Today's total: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
