UK NEWS

BOY, 12, AMONG TANKER STOWAWAYS

Friday February 8,2008

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A 12-year-old boy was among eight suspected illegal immigrants rescued from a chemical tanker suffering breathing problems, police have said.

The eight stowaways have all now been arrested on suspicion of immigration offences after receiving hospital treatment.

A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that two of the stowaways, including the 12-year-old boy, were Eritrean, three were Iraqi Kurds, and the other three were Iranian.

The 55-year-old driver of the German-registered tanker stopped in Abbeywood, south east London, was earlier arrested on suspicion of people trafficking.

Workmen laying water pipes reported hearing banging from inside the tank itself. Witnesses said they spoke to the driver before raising the alarm.

Two children - boys aged 12 and 16 - were found inside along with five adult men and one woman.

Ambulance and fire crews pulled the occupants to safety through a hatch on the top before they were treated with oxygen and taken to hospital.

The drama unfolded underneath a flyover at Harrow Manorway, close to Abbeywood railway station.

Police said the occupants of the tank appeared to have been overcome by gas created by the load, a powdered carbon-based chemical. Witnesses described a strong smell, similar to barbecue lighters.

The tanker is owned by H Freund, a German company with offices in Germany and Runcorn, Cheshire. The company said it was liaising with the Metropolitan Police over the circumstances of the incident.

TANKER STOWAWAYS

08.02.08, 9:08pm

Hospitals, ambulances, paramedic cars, police, public delayed going about their jobs,cost to business, it is just never ending cost of these stoways from East Africa, how many EU countries have they crossed to get here, but still the govt. says we are not a soft touch. This pathetic govt. should now impose fines of £5,000 per stowaway on the driver or owner of the vehicle, with confiscation on failure to pay as this is what would have happened to a BRITISH driver if he commited the offence, even if it meant putting business and drivers out of work. I would hazard a guess as to what will happen next....the stowaways will be granted stay because of their human rights, be fed and housed, give benefits and allowed their families to come over with them(human rights) all at tax payer cost, and allowed to vote in local elections. As for the driver of the vehicle he will plead ignorance(does not work for Brit drivers)be allowed to unload and return to his base in the EU at no cost. Please can the Express keep us readers advised of what happens in this case so we can see what does happen once the govt. machine gets into gear.

• Posted by: Daveyboy • Report Comment