Italy: 8 suspected human traffickers arrested following 49 migrant deaths
- 9 years ago
Italian authorities have arrested eight suspected human traffickers following a tragedy on Saturday (August 15) in which 49 migrants died.
According to the Italian Navy, the victims were discovered in the hold of a waterlogged fishing boat “immersed in water, fuel and human excrement.”
Four Libyans, three Moroccans and one Syrian have been detained, accused of forcibly preventing the migrants from leaving the hold as they suffocated.
Commander of the Italian Finance Police Alberto Nastasia outlined the suspected abuse:
“Abuse was inflicted to prevent the dozens of people crammed into the hold of the boat from getting out. Kicks, belt lashes, punches, all kinds of violence were used to prevent migrants from getting out of the hold.”
Inceasing numbers of casualties
It represents the third mass fatality in the Mediterranean in August 2015. Migrants are often crammed into overcrowded boats or rubber dinghies, in a desperate effort to reach the shores of Italy or Greece.
Those
According to the Italian Navy, the victims were discovered in the hold of a waterlogged fishing boat “immersed in water, fuel and human excrement.”
Four Libyans, three Moroccans and one Syrian have been detained, accused of forcibly preventing the migrants from leaving the hold as they suffocated.
Commander of the Italian Finance Police Alberto Nastasia outlined the suspected abuse:
“Abuse was inflicted to prevent the dozens of people crammed into the hold of the boat from getting out. Kicks, belt lashes, punches, all kinds of violence were used to prevent migrants from getting out of the hold.”
Inceasing numbers of casualties
It represents the third mass fatality in the Mediterranean in August 2015. Migrants are often crammed into overcrowded boats or rubber dinghies, in a desperate effort to reach the shores of Italy or Greece.
Those