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French honorary consul sold boats to migrants in Turkey | French honorary consul sold boats to migrants in Turkey |
(about 1 hour later) | |
France has suspended its honorary consul in the Turkish port of Bodrum after a TV report showed a shop she owns selling dinghies to migrants. | France has suspended its honorary consul in the Turkish port of Bodrum after a TV report showed a shop she owns selling dinghies to migrants. |
Footage secretly filmed by France 2 TV shows Francoise Olcay selling dinghies and life jackets to migrants hoping to reach the Greek islands. | Footage secretly filmed by France 2 TV shows Francoise Olcay selling dinghies and life jackets to migrants hoping to reach the Greek islands. |
The UN says 124,000 people reached Greece's shores by sea in the first seven months of 2015. | The UN says 124,000 people reached Greece's shores by sea in the first seven months of 2015. |
Ms Olcay said the items would be bought elsewhere if she did not sell them. | Ms Olcay said the items would be bought elsewhere if she did not sell them. |
Admitting that she was taking part in the trade, she alleged that local Turkish authorities were also involved. | Admitting that she was taking part in the trade, she alleged that local Turkish authorities were also involved. |
She said others would have taken her place if she stopped selling supplies to the migrants. | She said others would have taken her place if she stopped selling supplies to the migrants. |
The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that while honorary consuls are not members of the diplomatic corps, the news will be a big embarrassment to the French foreign ministry. | The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says that while honorary consuls are not members of the diplomatic corps, the news will be a big embarrassment to the French foreign ministry. |
The reporter on France 2 TV who uncovered the news had been investigating where migrants in Bodrum were purchasing their supplies. | The reporter on France 2 TV who uncovered the news had been investigating where migrants in Bodrum were purchasing their supplies. |
His inquiries brought him to a large store, with a French flag flying outside and a sign at the entrance saying "French honorary consul". | His inquiries brought him to a large store, with a French flag flying outside and a sign at the entrance saying "French honorary consul". |
Ms Olcay confirmed she was the consul, and that she sold boats to the migrants despite knowing it could lead to disaster. | Ms Olcay confirmed she was the consul, and that she sold boats to the migrants despite knowing it could lead to disaster. |
She told the reporter that it was wrong but everyone was doing it. | She told the reporter that it was wrong but everyone was doing it. |
Thousands of refugees have used Bodrum as a gateway to fulfil their dream of reaching Europe. | Thousands of refugees have used Bodrum as a gateway to fulfil their dream of reaching Europe. |
However, correspondents say the number of nightly departures appears to have slightly decreased after Turkish police stepped up patrols in the wake of the death of Alan Kurdi. | However, correspondents say the number of nightly departures appears to have slightly decreased after Turkish police stepped up patrols in the wake of the death of Alan Kurdi. |
The body of the three-year-old was washed up at Bodrum last week, after he drowned along with his mother, four-year-old brother and nine other Syrians as they attempted to sail to the Greek island of Kos. | |
Images of the boy's body sparked international outrage and highlighted the dangers faced by migrants who make the crossing. | Images of the boy's body sparked international outrage and highlighted the dangers faced by migrants who make the crossing. |
Alan Kurdi death: A Syrian Kurdish family forced to flee | Alan Kurdi death: A Syrian Kurdish family forced to flee |
Migrant crisis in maps and charts | Migrant crisis in maps and charts |