Three men have been arrested in connection with the deaths of five migrants in the English Channel on Tuesday, the UK's National Crime Agency said , quoted by BNR.
The men were detained on suspicion of assisting illegal immigration and entering the UK illegally. Five people, including a 7-year-old girl, have died in an accident on board a boat crossing the English Channel. At the time of the tragedy, the boat was carrying 112 people. Police identified the men as two Sudanese nationals, aged 22 and 19, and a South Sudanese national, aged 22.
An official statement said the men were arrested on Tuesday night by officers from the National Crime Agency and Immigration Services. The police have already conducted initial interrogations of those caught.
Speaking after the arrest, coroner Craig Turner promised to identify those behind the smuggling ring. “This tragic incident once again demonstrates the threat to life these crossings pose and highlights why it is so important to crack down on the criminal gangs involved in organizing them,” added Turner.
Since the start of this year, 6,265 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, which is almost a quarter more than the same period last year.