Four people detained in France after six died when migrant boat sank in Channel

Four people have been detained in France after six people died and more than 50 were rescued when a boat carrying migrants to the UK sank in the Channel.

At least 22 people were dropped off at Dover, in Kent, after the vessel got into trouble off the coast of Sangatte on 12 August.

Proceedings were opened against the four – two Iraqis aged in their early 40s and two Sudanese, one in their late teens and the other in their late 20s, according to French judicial sources.

Judges are now investigating the potential offences of involuntary homicide and criminal conspiracy for illegal immigration, with the Iraqis suspected of belonging to a human trafficking network, a spokesperson for the Paris prosecutor’s office said.

The four suspects were placed in detention on remand, according to the judicial sources.

Around 65 people are thought to have boarded the boat, with two still feared missing at sea based on the accounts of survivors, France’s Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea said at the time.

Six people were recovered and found to be in serious condition, one of whom was flown by helicopter to a Calais hospital and pronounced dead.

Five others, who were taken in by boat, had also died according to an updated statement.

A passing ship first raised the alarm at around 4.20am that a vessel was sinking near Calais in the early hours of Saturday, the prefecture said.

A French vessel then located a boat using optronic technology and approached to begin rescue operations using a 25-person life raft and a Rigid Inflatable Boat (Rib).

In the hours that followed, a French Navy aircraft and helicopter were deployed, assisted by several other French boats along with two British vessels.

A total of 61 people were rescued by the British and French emergency services, the prosecutor’s office spokesperson added.

The spokesperson said: “The identification of the dead people is still being carried out by the gendarmerie and the medico-legal institute at Lille.

“All repatriated people on the French side have been heard (interviewed). Nearly all are of Afghan nationality and passed through a camp in the ‘Jungle’ at Calais before departing from a beach further away from the town.”

The prosecutor's office said the boat had a motor problem and the majority of those on board did not have life jackets.

The spokesperson said: “Their situation had been signalled by a boat passing near and rescue resources were immediately triggered.

“Several boats in the area were warned and took a detour to get to the site.

"They were joined by an Abeille (surveillance aircraft from the national navy), a canoe from the National Society of Sea Safety, two British aid boats and a helicopter to help localise the victims.”

It had been one of several migrant boats that had set off between Friday night and Saturday morning aiming to reach the British coast, according to the French authorities.

It comes after some 444 people arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in eight boats on Wednesday, new figures show - which takes the provisional total for 2023 to date to 17,234.

It is understood Border Force has been preparing for what it calls “red” days, when warm weather and calm seas are favourable for crossings – conditions which are expected to continue on the south coast into the weekend.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…