French police slash inflatable migrant boat heading to UK

Watch video of French police destroying a boat in the English Channel in a rare and unusual intervention, which police have made clear is not a new tactic.

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All those onboard clambered to safety as the boat collapsed in chaotic scenes.

The intervention was highly unusual.

French police usually follow strict rules that bar them from going into the sea in case they put lives at risk.

"Let's go in," said one of the gendarmes, pulling off his body armour, and taking out a small knife. His colleagues took their heavy armour off, too, placing equipment in the back of a nearby police car before rushing into the water.