All articles tagged with #asylum seeker
A mistaken release of an asylum-seeker convicted of sexual assault in the UK has led to a police manhunt and reignited tensions over migration, with protests and political criticism following the error.
The UK newspapers focus on a major prison error involving a sex offender, Prince Andrew's potential departure from Royal Lodge amid ongoing controversies, political setbacks for Labour, and economic plans by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, alongside international trade tensions involving Donald Trump.
Ibrahima Bah, a migrant navigating an inflatable boat in the English Channel, has been found responsible for the death of four people, marking the first time a migrant has been held accountable for harm caused to other occupants. Bah, who claimed to be coerced into steering the unseaworthy vessel, faced complex legal questions about his responsibility for the deaths. The case highlighted the clash between laws punishing illegal immigration and protecting genuine asylum seekers, ultimately resulting in Bah's conviction for manslaughter.
Police in Switzerland shot dead a 32-year-old asylum seeker from Iran who had taken 15 passengers hostage on a train with an axe and a knife. After attempting to communicate with the man for several hours, officers stormed the train and fatally wounded him when he attacked them. The hostages were unharmed, and the motive for the hostage-taking remains unclear. Hostage dramas are rare in Switzerland, but this incident follows a previous hostage situation at a watch-making firm in January 2022.
An asylum seeker has died on a UK barge used to house migrants and refugees awaiting asylum claims. The death is being investigated by British authorities. The barge has faced controversy and criticism for poor conditions and allegations of abusive behavior. The Refugee Council has called for an independent review, highlighting the need for better support and compassion in the asylum system.
A Palestinian asylum seeker in his twenties was arrested in Brussels after allegedly discussing plans for a suicide bombing. The man expressed desperation about his family's situation in Gaza and declared his intention to die as a martyr. The arrest comes amid heightened terrorist threat levels in Belgium following a recent attack in which two Swedish nationals were killed. Antisemitic incidents have also increased globally, with multiple countries reporting a rise in incidents and increased surveillance around Jewish institutions.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Brussels, stating that one of its fighters carried out the attack that killed two people. The suspect, a 45-year-old Tunisian who had his asylum application rejected in 2020, continued to live in Belgium illegally. After a manhunt, the police shot and killed the suspect in the Schaerbeek district of Brussels.
A 27-year-old Eritrean man has been sentenced to life in prison by a German court for the murder of a schoolgirl and attempted murder of another in a knife attack last year. The man, who came to Germany as an asylum seeker, carried out the attack in an attempt to force authorities to provide him with an identity document. The court ruled that the "special gravity" of the crime should make him ineligible for early release after serving 15 years. It remains unclear if he will be deported at the end of his sentence.
Russian airman, Lieutenant Dmitry Mishov, who defected and sought political asylum in Lithuania, gave a rare interview to the BBC. He described the Russian army as suffering heavy losses and experiencing low morale. Mishov, an attack helicopter navigator, said he tried to leave the air force in January 2022 but was sent to Belarus where he flew helicopters delivering military cargo. He returned to his base in Russia in April 2022 where he hoped to continue his decommissioning, but in September 2022 President Putin announced partial military mobilisation. He knew that sooner or later he would be sent to Ukraine and started looking for ways to avoid it.
Two toddlers stabbed by a knifeman in Annecy, France, were stable but fighting for their lives, as the nation paid tribute to a pilgrim who tried to block the assailant during his attack and then gave chase. Four children and two pensioners were wounded during the assault. A 31-year-old Syrian national, who was granted asylum in Sweden 10 years ago, was arrested and is under investigation for attempted murder. The attack has laid bare the tensions between Europe's free movement rights and the pressure governments in countries like France and Italy are coming under from voters to toughen immigration laws as societies shift rightwards politically.
Andrey Medvedev, a former contractor of the Wagner Group, has been sentenced to 14 days in jail for disorderly conduct and carrying an air gun in a public place by a court in Norway. Medvedev, who is seeking asylum in Norway, was acquitted of committing violence against police officers during his arrest. He fled to Norway earlier this year and has said he would fear for his life if he were sent back to Russia. Medvedev said he was willing to testify about any possible war crimes he witnessed, though he denied participating in any himself.