A second group of 28 illegal immigrants was brought ashore in Malta on Monday; just hours after another group of 24 illegal immigrants reached the Delimara coast earlier on in the day at around 0030CEST.
The AFM asked a commercial vessel set to dock in a Maltese port, to rescue the 24 illegal immigrants and bring them ashore. The illegal immigrants are from Somalia.
In turn, the AFM is investigating at least three other report of illegal immigrants heading towards Maltese shores.
Earlier on Monday morning, 24 illegal immigrants reached Delimara on a 18-foot-long boat. They landed near the power station at around 0030CEST.
Police were immediately called on location and detained the illegal immigrants for investigations. 17 of the illegal immigrants are men, while nine are women.
Police investigations continue.
Four boatloads of illegal immigrants reached Maltese shores in three days, pushing the total number of illegal immigrants to reach Malta since the beginning of the year up to 1,067.
Meanwhile, the Spanish trawler with 50 illegal immigrants on board is still at a standstill 16 miles away from the Maltese coast, after authorities denied the vessel access to Malta. The Spanish trawler rescued the illegal immigrants in Libyan territorial waters on Saturday. On Sunday afternoon the Armed Forces dispatched provisions and the AFM doctor, accompanied by a Spanish diplomat.
Diplomatic talks on what will become of the illegal immigrants onboard the vessel Francesco Catalina are ongoing.
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature:
Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
See also:
Illegal immigrants disembark in Marsaxlokk
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 16, 2006, 10:04 CET
Illegal immigrants brought ashore
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 15, 2006, 10:01 CET
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