Confusion reigned over whether 52 immigrants rounded up yesterday had just landed or were trying to escape in a case that may be linked to the tragic drowning of a teenage boy forced to jump into the sea off Sicily.
There could be a link with what happened in Malta today
Conflicting details over what happened emerged from the police and the Home Affairs Ministry, a situation compounded by Italian media reports that traffickers aboard a boat, which allegedly left Malta, ordered the migrants to jump off – resulting in a boy who could not swim drowning.
The story started in the early hours of yesterday when authorities received anonymous tip-offs around 3 or 4 a.m. on separate immigrant sightings in Qbajjar (close to Marsalforn) and Manikata.
Police last night issued a scant statement saying a group of 23 men had “landed” at Qbajjar, while another of 29 men was caught in the area known as Delli, in Manikata.
This contrasts with information the ministry received that the immigrants were actually trying to escape from the island, possibly headed for Italy. There are several common elements in both cases leading the ministry to believe the immigrants were trying to escape.
In the case of Gozo, army personnel intercepted a group of male immigrants, including minors, attempting to board a speedboat, which managed to zip off in the dark of the night once its skipper saw the officers, a ministry spokesman said.
These immigrants, who claimed to be Palestinians, looked fresh and clean-shaven, indicating they could not have been out at sea for long, if at all. A Maltese and two Libyans were also apprehended.
In the second case, the spokesman said, a group of male immigrants were rounded up on land in Manikata.
There was no boat and when they saw the police they too claimed to be Palestinians. But contrary to the first group, these looked worse for wear.
In both groups most immigrants changed their claims of Palestinian nationality to Egyptian. The exact identity has yet to be established through further investigations.
One of the theories being studied is that the speedboat – run by a ring of traffickers – was planning to first pick up a group from Gozo, then possibly head on to Manikata, before proceeding to Sicily. However, two boats could be involved.
This theory could link in with Italian media reports of a tragedy that unfolded off the Sicilian coast of Licata, soon after the incidents in Malta.
One report quotes a group of 18 immigrants, eight of whom were minors, saying they were ordered to jump into the sea when they were close to shore because the traffickers feared being intercepted by Italian authorities. That was when the teenager drowned.
The autopsy on the boy established he was about 16 or 17 and had the typical characteristics of an Egyptian, according to the Italian news portals.
One website yesterday said: “It is not being ruled out that there could be a link with what happened in Malta today where 52 immigrants were stopped from embarking two boats headed for Sicily.”
However, police in Malta are sticking to their statement that the 52 immigrants apprehended were not trying to escape but had actually landed. Investigations are still underway.