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| Five men held in Italy over presumed deaths of 200 migrants in the Med | Five men held in Italy over presumed deaths of 200 migrants in the Med |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three Libyans and two Algerians have been arrested by Italian police in connection with the presumed drowning of more than 200 migrants in the Mediterranean. | Three Libyans and two Algerians have been arrested by Italian police in connection with the presumed drowning of more than 200 migrants in the Mediterranean. |
| The five men, who are accused of multiple murder and human trafficking, were held for questioning on Thursday night after being arrested in Palermo, where survivors of the previous day’s capsizing arrived. | The five men, who are accused of multiple murder and human trafficking, were held for questioning on Thursday night after being arrested in Palermo, where survivors of the previous day’s capsizing arrived. |
| The suspects were named as Imad Busadia, Abdullah Assnusi, Ali Rouibah, Suud Mujassabi and Shauki Esshaush. | The suspects were named as Imad Busadia, Abdullah Assnusi, Ali Rouibah, Suud Mujassabi and Shauki Esshaush. |
| Police allege migrants were beaten and stabbed during the voyage, with many locked in the hold. Rescue crews were able to save 373 people, according to the latest assessment by the Italian coastguard, while 25 were confirmed dead. | Police allege migrants were beaten and stabbed during the voyage, with many locked in the hold. Rescue crews were able to save 373 people, according to the latest assessment by the Italian coastguard, while 25 were confirmed dead. |
| Related: Up to 200 people still unaccounted for after migrant boat sinks off Libya | Related: Up to 200 people still unaccounted for after migrant boat sinks off Libya |
| The search for survivors continued on Thursday morning, with five vessels patrolling the area of the disaster for signs of life, but none were found, according to Migrant Report, which is closely following the situation. | The search for survivors continued on Thursday morning, with five vessels patrolling the area of the disaster for signs of life, but none were found, according to Migrant Report, which is closely following the situation. |
| Most of the passengers were believed to be from Syria, though their nationalities have not been confirmed. | Most of the passengers were believed to be from Syria, though their nationalities have not been confirmed. |
| If the death toll continues to rise as expected, the capsizing will be the deadliest involving migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean since April, when more than 800 died after their boat sank. | If the death toll continues to rise as expected, the capsizing will be the deadliest involving migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean since April, when more than 800 died after their boat sank. |
| It is thought that up to 600 migrants were on board, with many believed to have been in the hull. These people would have had almost no chance to escape, experts said. | It is thought that up to 600 migrants were on board, with many believed to have been in the hull. These people would have had almost no chance to escape, experts said. |
| The boat is believed to have hit rough weather 15 miles (24km) off the Libyan coast, and made a distress call that was received by Italian naval officials. | The boat is believed to have hit rough weather 15 miles (24km) off the Libyan coast, and made a distress call that was received by Italian naval officials. |
| An Irish rescue vessel, LÉ Niamh, and Dignity I, a boat operated by Médecins Sans Frontières, the international medical aid charity, were dispatched to the area. They were later joined by three other ships and a helicopter. | An Irish rescue vessel, LÉ Niamh, and Dignity I, a boat operated by Médecins Sans Frontières, the international medical aid charity, were dispatched to the area. They were later joined by three other ships and a helicopter. |
| The boat is believed to have capsized at 1pm (1200 BST) after it was approached by two smaller vessels operated by LÉ Niamh. Passengers are believed to have rushed to one side of the boat, which then overturned. | The boat is believed to have capsized at 1pm (1200 BST) after it was approached by two smaller vessels operated by LÉ Niamh. Passengers are believed to have rushed to one side of the boat, which then overturned. |
| Migrant Report noted on Thursday that the Italian coastguard vessel, Mimbelli, then sent a helicopter to drop life rafts at the site, a quick response that saved hundreds of lives. | Migrant Report noted on Thursday that the Italian coastguard vessel, Mimbelli, then sent a helicopter to drop life rafts at the site, a quick response that saved hundreds of lives. |
| In April, a boat carrying more than 800 migrants overturned, also off Libya’s coast, where smugglers operate. Only 28 survivors, including two alleged smugglers, were found. | In April, a boat carrying more than 800 migrants overturned, also off Libya’s coast, where smugglers operate. Only 28 survivors, including two alleged smugglers, were found. |
| More than 2,000 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe this year, according to the International Organisation for Migration. | |
| The aid group said the central Mediterranean route from Africa to southern Italy was far more dangerous than other routes used by migrants. It noted that while Italy and Greece had experienced a similar inflow of migrants this year (97,000 in Italy and 90,500 in Greece), almost 2,000 had died making their way to Italy, while 60 were known to have died trying to get to Greece. | The aid group said the central Mediterranean route from Africa to southern Italy was far more dangerous than other routes used by migrants. It noted that while Italy and Greece had experienced a similar inflow of migrants this year (97,000 in Italy and 90,500 in Greece), almost 2,000 had died making their way to Italy, while 60 were known to have died trying to get to Greece. |
| Non-governmental organisations often join migrant sea rescue operations, which are coordinated by Italy’s coastguard and are now under the umbrella of an EU taskforce known as Triton. | Non-governmental organisations often join migrant sea rescue operations, which are coordinated by Italy’s coastguard and are now under the umbrella of an EU taskforce known as Triton. |
| Last October, the EU opted not to replace the Italian-run search-and-rescue operation Mare Nostrum, which saved about 100,000 lives last year, amid fears that it was encouraging smugglers and migrants to organise more trips to Europe. | Last October, the EU opted not to replace the Italian-run search-and-rescue operation Mare Nostrum, which saved about 100,000 lives last year, amid fears that it was encouraging smugglers and migrants to organise more trips to Europe. |