Italian authorities seek truck driver who was filmed striking migrants near French border

ROME (AP) — Italian border police are looking for a truck driver who is shown on a widely circulated video striking female migrants after he found them in the back of his vehicle near the French border, officials said Wednesday.

Smugglers loaded the 12 Eritrean women on the truck at a rest stop near the border on Monday while the trucker was having lunch, according to authorities. The women allegedly paid 100-150 euros ($110-$165) to be transported across the border. Authorities believe the truck driver was unaware of their presence.

Once closed inside the truck, the women apparently started agitating due to the heat, with outdoor temperatures over 30 degrees C (86 F), drawing the driver’s attention, officials in Ventimiglia said.

The video made by a witness — who asked not to be identified — shows the man striking at the women with the hardware end of a cargo strap as they got out one by one. At one point, one woman stood firm, shielding others so they could pass without being hit. The last woman to exit tried to grab the strap from him.