Ferry immigrants threaten to throw children overboard
Asylum seekers on a cross-Channel ferry threatened to throw their children overboard unless they were allowed into Britain, it emerged tonight.
The three men, five women and eight children, all believed to be from Romania, but travelling on forged Italian documents, were on a ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven when the crew became suspicious and alerted the authorities.
Immigration officials boarded the ferry and told the group they were not being allowed into Britain.
But the adults became aggressive and threatened to throw the children into the water. One woman even held a boy of about six over the side of the boat.
Police officers were called to the scene and managed to calm the situation and the group were allowed ashore.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: ‘‘They have now been released on temporary admissions while their applications for asylum are processed.
‘‘They have been interviewed by immigration officials and their claims are currently being investigated.
‘‘I understand they became rowdy when intercepted but the police managed to calm the group down.’’
