Three young men have been arrested in an investigation into the deaths of five asylum seekers including a child.
The trio was detained on suspicion of facilitating illegal immigration and entering the UK illegally following yesterday’s tragedy.
Two Sudanese nationals aged 22 and 19, and a South Sudan national aged 22, were held last night and this morning by the National Crime Agency and partners in Immigration Enforcement.
They will now be questioned by investigators from the NCA at a police station in Kent.
The tragedyunfolded off the French coast.
More than 110 people were said to have been on board the vessel when it left at 5am near the Plage des Allemands.
A total of 55 people believed to have been on board the boat when it arrived in the UK yesterday have also been identified.
They have now been through initial interviews, with further interviews likely to take place over the coming days as part of the probe.
French police continue to investigate the circumstances that led to the deaths. The NCA is closely supporting that investigation alongside Kent Police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.
NCA Deputy Director of investigations Craig Turner said: “This tragic incident once again demonstrates the threat to life posed by these crossings and bring into focus why it is so important to target the criminal gangs involved in organising them.
“We will do all we can with partners in the UK and France to secure evidence, identify those responsible for this event, and bring them to justice.”
