Turkey Arrests Two over Deadly Migrant Boat Sinking
Turkey has arrested two suspected people traffickers over the sinking this week of a boat overloaded with migrants off Istanbul that left 24 dead and a dozen still missing, official media said Wednesday.
Two people, whose identities and nationalities were not disclosed, have been arrested on charges of people trafficking and deliberate negligence causing death, the official Anatolia news agency reported.
An arrest warrant has also been issued for a third suspect, who remains at large. The case is to be sent to court later on Wednesday, it added.
At least 24 people lost their lives when the boat sank Monday in the Black Sea around three nautical miles off Istanbul after passing, apparently undetected, through the Bosphorus.
Six people were rescued and the case is being built on their testimony, Anatolia said. Rescuers are still searching for 13 people missing.
Reports said that the vessel -- described as a small tour boat -- had a maximum capacity of just 13 people and was overloaded by the 43 on board as well as their luggage.
The migrants were on their way to Romania after boarding the boat in the Istanbul suburbs earlier on Monday and then passing through the Bosphorus before hitting open water.
NTV television said on Monday the migrants had paid 7,000 euros ($8,750) each to travel to Romania and onwards to wealthier western European countries.
Turkey has become a hub for illegal immigrants who aspire to reach western Europe.
But this group of migrants were using a highly unusual route by traveling the entire length of the Bosphorus, one of the world's busiest shipping routes.
The accident comes at a time of intense debate in the EU over whether to continue migrant rescue missions, which some argue are encouraging more people to risk the hazardous voyages.
Source: Agence France Presse
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