Sudanese 'taxi boat pilot' charged in four Channel drowning deaths

A Sudanese 'taxi boat pilot' has been charged in connection with the deaths of four migrants who drowned while attempting to cross the English Channel. 

Sudanese national Alnour Mohamed Ali was charged with endangering life, on Friday, after two men and two women died trying to board a small boat crossing the English Channel on Thursday, the National Crime Agency said.

The 27-year-old is alleged to have piloted the boat from France to the UK.

Two men and two women died as they attempted to climb onto a so-called 'taxi boat' at Equihen-Plage, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, on Thursday morning.

38 people were returned to the French shore after the incident south of Boulogne-sur-Mer near Calais, but 74 migrants travelled on to the UK.

He will appear at Folkestone Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

The new 'taxi boat' people-smuggling tactic, designed to avoid detection by French police, involves dinghies travelling along the coast with just a driver to pre-designated beaches, where migrants enter the water to board.

Two children were among those taken to hospital as a precaution after the incident on Thursday, and another person was treated for hypothermia.

Endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK is a new offence introduced as part of border security legislation earlier this year.

In January, Aman Naseri, 18, an Afghan national, was the first person to be charged.

According to the Home Office, the offence is designed to stop more people being crammed into unsafe boats and would apply to those involved in physical aggression and intimidation, as well as anyone who resists rescue.

French government official Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, told reporters on Thursday the people who died were 'already quite far into the sea', adding: 'The currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away.'

The agency is helping French authorities with their investigation.

It came a day after French emergency services took part in a training exercise to practise dealing with migrants in the water at the same beach where the deaths happened.

More than 5,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel so far this year, according to Home Office data.

Migrant charities repeated calls for the Government to provide safe and legal ways for asylum seekers to arrive in the UK to prevent more death, and Conservatives accused Labour of being 'weak' over tackling crossings.

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Sudanese man, 27, is arrested after four migrants died in the Channel

The Government said it was 'deeply saddened' by the deaths.

Last week, two migrants died in a similar crossing attempt - thought to be the first of the year.

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.'