Three detained in investigation into the deaths of five migrants in the English Channel

The British National Crime Agency (NCA) announced this Wednesday that the investigation into the deaths of five people while trying to cross the English Channel by boat led to the arrest of three individuals. In a statement, the deputy director of the NCA, Craig Turner, confirmed that “three men were arrested on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the United Kingdom illegally”, as part of the investigation led by France.

“The men, two Sudanese aged 22 and 19 and a South Sudanese aged 19, were detained between yesterday [terça-feira] tonight and this morning by us and our partners in the Immigration Force and will be questioned by NCA investigators at a police station in Kent,” he added. The agency said it is “supporting” the French authorities’ investigation into the deaths , in an accident on Tuesday.

The arrests come after a seven-year-old girl, a woman and three men died during an attempt to cross the English Channel from France to England on Tuesday. Turner stated that “another 55 people who boarded the boat that arrived in the United Kingdom yesterday were also identified.”

The accident happened hours after the British parliament approved legislation to deport illegal immigrants to Rwanda, in order to dissuade others from making this dangerous crossing.

However, the British Government’s measure is criticized by humanitarian organizations, including the UN, as they believe it undermines international commitments to the protection of human rights and access to asylum.

Last year, 29,437 people arrived on British soil after irregular crossings of the English Channel, 36% less than the record 45,774 in 2022, according to official British data.