Europe

Six people found in back of lorry near Portsmouth – emergency crews at scene

Emergency services were called to the A27 this morning, local media reported. It comes after 102 migrants attempted to cross the English Channel last Friday.

Five inflatable boats carrying individuals claiming to be from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Syria were picked up by Border Force, the Home Office said.

Nine of the migrants managed to get to a beach in Kent where they were detained by police.

The 102 migrants are believed to be a new record for a single day.

It came after 90 people were picked up on Thursday.

Across the Channel, French authorities also detained “around 30 people”.

Natalie Elphicke, MP for Dover & Deal, said: “It beggars belief that another flotilla of small boats got past the French again today.

“These are serious security lapses and we need an urgent explanation from the French as to what they are doing to get a grip on this situation.

“I am mindful that the search and rescue operations this week have involved all three border force vessels, RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard, a plane, a helicopter, ambulance services, police and much besides.

“These are emergency services for the UK, diverted from vital day-to-day operations.”

On Friday, Border Force dealt with six incidents after being alerted to small boats that were headed towards the UK.

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In the first incident, at around 1am, an inflatable boat was intercepted which was carrying a group of 32 people – 26 men and six women – who presented themselves as Iranian and Iraqi nationals.

At around 2.45am, a small boat was picked up which was carrying a group of 13 people – 12 men and one woman – who presented themselves as Iranian and Afghan nationals.

In the third incident, at around 3.55am, a boat carrying a group of 15 people – 14 men and one woman – who presented themselves as Iranian nationals was intercepted.

At around 8am, Kent Police detained a group of nine people – eight men and one woman – claiming to be Iranian nationals at Sandgate Beach.

In the fifth incident, at 10am, a Border Force vessel intercepted a boat with 10 men aboard who presented themselves as Iranian, Pakistani, Afghan and Iraqi nationals.

In the sixth incident, at around 10.45am, a group of 23 people – 16 men and seven women – were found on a boat who claimed to be Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian nationals.

Last October, 39 Vietnamese migrants were found dead in the back of a refrigerated lorry in Grays, Essex.

This is a breaking story. More to follow.

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