A Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life after four migrants died in an attempted small boat crossing of the Channel.
The 27-year-old was arrested by National Crime Agency officers this morning.
Two men and two women died yesterday when they tried to board a water taxi, which smugglers are increasingly using to avoid police.
The incident happened off the coast of Saint Etienne au Mont, south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais.
Thirty-eight illegal migrants were returned to the French shore but 74 were intercepted at sea and taken to the UK.
The suspect was arrested at Manston processing centre in Kent on suspicion of ‘endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK’ under the new Border, Security, Asylum and Immigration Act.
He remains in police custody to be interviewed by police, who are also in the process of interviewing those who made the journey to the UK.
A large rescue operation was launched just after 7am yesterday, with onlookers seeing several bodies floating in the water
A tent was set up to handle victims of the incident in the northern coastal city of Equihen-Plage
There is an ongoing investigation led by French prosecutor into the circumstances of the launch and the four fatalities.
The NCA is assisting the French with those enquires.
Craig Turner, NCA Deputy Director, said: ‘Working with colleagues at home and abroad, we are determined to do all we can to identify and bring to justice those responsible for these four tragic deaths.’
Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, said: ‘Crossing the Channel on often faulty and defective dinghies is immensely dangerous and puts lives at risk.
‘Labour’s weak approach which allows these crossings to continue is causing lives to be lost, and their unwillingness to take decisive action on illegal immigration is fuelling this crisis. Nearly 70,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel since Keir Starmer came to office – he doesn’t have the backbone to do what is necessary.
‘Stopping the crossings requires more than disruption on the beaches. It requires the swift removal of those who enter illegally so the incentive to make these dangerous journeys disappears.
‘Ending illegal immigration requires real deterrence, and only the Conservative Party has a comprehensive plan to leave the ECHR and rapidly remove every illegal arrival within a week.’
Britain is bracing for a ‘bumper’ summer of Channel crossings after Emmanuel Macron snubbed UK proposals for boats to be sent back to France.
Talks over a new migrant patrol deal were plunged into chaos after Shabana Mahmood pushed for Border Force vessels to be able to intercept boats carrying migrants in French waters and return them.
Survivors of the incident were handed thermal blankets by emergency responders
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But Paris rebuffed the Home Secretary, saying the sovereignty of France’s territorial waters was a red line and that British boats cannot enter them.
Despite this, the Home Office confirmed it was handing over another £16million of UK taxpayers’ money to the French authorities for anti-crossing measures to remain in place for another two months while talks continue.
Critics said it showed Labour’s plan for stopping the boats was ‘shambolic’ and ‘in a state of collapse’.
They also warned of a surge in crossings if France and the UK fail to agree new terms on funding French beach patrols.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp said: ‘Every death in the Channel is a tragedy.
‘Our experienced law enforcement teams will continue working relentlessly with international partners to prevent these perilous journeys and bring those responsible to justice.
‘Through our Border Security Act, officers now have stronger powers to act earlier and disrupt, intercept and take down the operations of criminal smuggling gangs who bring illegal migrants to our shores.’
