Teen Migrants Shot by Traffickers in France

Two Sudanese teenagers were hospitalized for leg injuries following an attack in Calais on Sunday, as they attempted to cross from France to Britain. The incident involved a group of Afghan assailants, with one victim, a 16-year-old boy, suffering knee wounds, while the other, an 18-year-old, sustained a thigh injury. After receiving treatment, both boys declined to cooperate with police and continued their journey across the English Channel. The attack has raised alarms among authorities, as it appears to be part of a troubling trend of violence linked to human trafficking in the region. Investigative sources noted that the nature of the injuries suggests a method reminiscent of 'kneecapping,' a brutal punishment historically associated with paramilitary groups during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. This development is particularly concerning for law enforcement on both sides of the Channel, as it indicates a potential escalation in the tactics used by traffickers. On the same day, tragedy struck when two men drowned after their small boat capsized in French waters. Boulogne prosecutors have initiated a criminal investigation into both the fatalities and the shootings, with judicial police actively pursuing the smugglers involved in organizing these perilous crossings. The ongoing crisis has been underscored by the recent death of Dina Al Shammari, who drowned off the coast of Calais in July. Her tragic fate highlights the dangers faced by migrants and the desperate circumstances that often lead them to risk their lives at sea.