Italian Border Incident: Truck Driver Assaults Migrant Women

Italian border police are in search of a truck driver seen in a video whipping female migrants found in his truck near the French border. The Eritrean women had paid smugglers to cross the border, but the driver was unaware. The incident highlights ongoing challenges around illegal migration and border security.

Italian border police are on the hunt for a truck driver after a video surfaced showing him whipping female migrants found in the back of his truck near the French border. The video has circulated widely, prompting outrage and calls for action.

According to authorities, 12 Eritrean women were smuggled into the truck at a rest stop near the French border while the driver was having lunch. The women paid smugglers 100-150 euros to be transported across the border. However, the driver was reportedly unaware of their presence until they began to agitate due to the extreme heat, which drew his attention.

A witness's video shows the driver using a cargo strap to strike at the women as they descended from the truck. One woman tried to shield the others while another attempted to grab the strap from him.

The women returned to a center run by the Catholic charity Caritas and made two more unsuccessful crossing attempts before apparently succeeding on the third. The city's mayor condemned the driver's actions but also sympathized with the risks faced by truck drivers unknowingly carrying undocumented migrants.

The driver is unlikely to face sanctions unless the women file a formal complaint. This incident sheds light on the broader issues of migrant routes and border security, particularly in Ventimiglia, a hotspot for migration attempts towards northern Europe.

(With inputs from agencies.)