Illegals flock to island
2004-09-30 22:52
Rome - About 400 more illegal immigrants flocked onto the Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday, bringing to more than 800 the number of boat-people landing on the tiny Mediterranean outpost in a 24-hour period, a coastguard official said.
Three boatloads of the would-be immigrants were picked up by coastguard patrols during the day, to add to the more than 400 people who came ashore overnight on Wednesday aboard two other vessels.
Officials said checks were being carried out to determine where they came from. The first boatloads had declared themselves as Palestinians.
"They will be sent back to their country of origin," said interior minister Giuseppe Pisanu late on Thursday.
"I'm saying that to calm down Italians, but also to make it known to those who intend to set out and tackle the sea to come to Italy," he added.
The minister added that the immigrants who had landed in Lampedusa "will receive medical treatment, and then immediately be sent home".
Earlier this month Italian officials said nearly 10 000 illegal immigrants had arrived in the country during 2004.
The island, which is located halfway between Sicily and the north African coast, is an increasingly popular destination for migrants from Africa hoping to enter Europe illegally.