The captain of the boat that capsized off the coast of Libya, killing hundreds of migrants, was today charged with reckless multiple homicide.
The Tunisian national was among 27 survivors of one of the worst maritime tragedies in recent history. It is thought about 800 people died.
He also faces a charge of “favouring illegal immigration”, along with a Syrian member of the crew, police said. They were arrested after stepping onto Sicilian soil last night, about 24 hours after the boat capsized on Sunday.
Italian prosecutors say hundreds of migrants were locked below deck unable to escape when the craft capsized off Libya at the weekend.
Prosecutor Giovanni Salvi said: “Two people are in custody following the testimony of survivors: the captain, of Tunisian origin, and a Syrian male national. The remaining 25 migrants are free. They will be identified following immediate care and are expected to request asylum.”
At the news conference in Catania, Sicily, he said “a few hundred were forced into the hold and locked in and prevented from coming out.” Hundreds more were locked on a second level of the boat, which also had hundreds squeezed into its upper deck.
Mr Salvi said the vessel turned over after migrants rushed to one side, hoping for rescue, when they saw a Portuguese container ship approach. An investigation has been opened into disaster. After speaking to the survivors, the UN refugee agency said those on board included children aged between 10 and 12. Carlotta Sami, of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Italy, said: “There were Syrians, about 150 Eritreans, Somalians... They had left Tripoli at about 8am on Saturday.”
Another source involved in the humanitarian effort said: “They are very distressed. They could express themselves but most didn’t say much and you can’t push them too much in these circumstances. They were all young. The average age 25, I’d say.”
Even as the survivors were brought to shore, further rescues were under way to save migrants on two vessels carrying a total of about 450 people off Libya.
At the port in Catania, tents were set up to provide medical assistance. The Red Cross, with a team of 30 people, stayed into the early hours today, along with translators who speak English, French and Arabic.
In total, up to 1,300 migrants are thought to have died trying to cross the Mediterranean in the past week. The EU has set out measures to combat the crisis. Search-and-rescue operations will be stepped up, and there will be a campaign to destroy traffickers’ boats.
