Ruthless smugglers threatened to shoot migrants – including a bride-to-be – unless they boarded the overcrowded dinghy that went down in the Channel this week, friends said yesterday.
Up to 50 people were supposed to board two boats ahead of the fatal voyage – but one vessel suffered engine trouble, those stuck in camps in France claimed.
It was claimed that the gun-toting gang gathered the migrants in one boat rather than curbing their trip, which would have earned them thousands of pounds.
As more people were identified as being among the victims of Wednesday’s disaster off Calais, chilling details became apparent.
Mariam Nouri Dargalayi was a 24-year-old student who had just been engaged to her boyfriend and wanted to meet him in Britain.
Smugglers threatened to shoot migrants, including bride-to-be Mariam Nouri Dargalayi (pictured with fiance), unless they boarded the doomed dinghy that went down in Channel
Baran was her nickname and the reason she is known to her family. She traveled via Germany from northern Iraq to France.
Fiance Karzan, who claims to have British citizenship, is currently working in Bournemouth as a barber. It’s very sad for all of us.
‘I maintained constant communication with my wife. I also tracked her movements live using GPS. She was in that boat for four hours, 18 minutes. I believe they got lost at sea.
“She was a cheerful person. She was a happy person.
Krmanj Ezzat (a cousin living in Iraq) said last night: “Her father and mother are completely devastated. It is a terrible situation. It was her prime. The whole family is in shock.
“I can understand why people want to leave for better lives, but it isn’t the right path. It is the road to your death. This is the path of death.
You can see that ‘Baran tried a very hard way to reach Britain. Karzan was there waiting to meet her in England. She was learning English.
Four more relatives are also believed to be on board the boat, Mr Ezzat believes.
Shakar Ali (25), and Harem Pirrot (23), who were born in Iraq as neighbors and moved to the UK together, are thought to be onboard the dinghy
Deniz Ahmed Mohammed’s family, a Kurd of 27 years old, left a voicemail yesterday saying that their father had called them to say his final goodbye. He said: “Just pray for us.”
Shakar Ali and Harem Pirot, childhood friends from Ranya in northern Iraq were among those who died.
Sanger Ahmed, their friend said that he spoke with them by phone the day they left. The boat was small and they said that smugglers could shoot them if they try to get back.
“They believed the boat was too crowded, with about 50 people in it. It is possible that they were forced to board the boat.
People smugglers have guns and they don’t care about weather or overloaded boats. Everyone has heard stories of people being threatened by a gun if they do not get on board.
Many sources made outrageous claims about the Wednesday afternoon events in the Dunkirk squalid camp where doomed migrants were waiting to cross.
The Loon-Plage beach just outside Dunkirk was the location of two boats. Two boats were set to leave from Loon-Plage beach, just outside Dunkirk. One of them had an engine problem but greedy smugglers couldn’t miss their chance at a cash win.
One source within the camp said that the migrants were informed by the smugglers about the boat’s ability to hold all their belongings.
A second migrant stated, “It’s all about money.” Many people are greedy and have too much money to lose.
Overcrowded, the dinghy was approximately 30 feet long and was so fragile it was compared to a child’s paddling pool. It appears that either water had been added to it or the ship collided with it.
The Mail told yesterday how migrant Mohammed Aziz, 31, made a frantic phone call to his friend Peshraw Aziz and said: ‘It’s not good, the engine isn’t powerful enough – I don’t know if we’re going to make it.’
Multiple sources in the camp have claimed the boat could have had as many as 50 people on board, and the French authorities are braced for the death toll – currently at 27 – to rise.
Friend of Shakar and Harem Sanger Ahmed also told of his fears for two other Iraqi Kurds – Hassan, in his late twenties, and Twana Muhammad (pictured), 18, a student
Deniz Ahmed Mohammed Mohammed, 27, left, and Riaz Mohammed Mohammed, 12, right, were both said to have left them a last voicemail.
Sanger, speaking of his friends said that he had known Harem, who is thought to have been 23, and Shakar at 27 years of age. The three were neighbors in Ranya (in the Kurdistan area of Iraq). Sanger claimed that he traveled with Harem, Shakar and other friends to Turkey.
While his friends traveled via Italy to France, he chose to travel via Belarus. The trio then arranged for a meeting in France.
Sanger also told of his fears for two other Iraqi Kurds – Hassan, in his late twenties, and Twana Muhammad, 18, a student.
He believes that Sirwan an Iranian named Sirwan (around 25 years old) and Hever, a Ranya-based man in his 20s, could have both died.
Riaz Mohammed (12 years old) is believed to have been the youngest victim. He was seen wearing a life jacket.
Sanger added: ‘I’m not sure if I will get a boat now – if there’s a chance on a lorry I might not take that risk.’
Mail received reports from camp migrants that police control are too lax and traffickers openly launched their human cargo in wide daylight, in front of security officers.
Karl Maquinghen was a French skipper, who had been sailing for over 21 years. He heard the alarm when bodies were found in the ocean.
Yesterday, he stated that seeing so many bodies right in front of us was like an horror film.
‘You can’t sleep – as soon as you close your eyes, you see bodies again.
“We were terrified to lift the nets, for fear of finding one.” We might have saved them if we arrived five minutes sooner.
Deniz was told by a relative that Ranya’s family feared for the worst.
Darya, nephew, said that he was in poverty and then used everything he had to travel to the UK.
“My grandfather didn’t even eat until now.” They are going to be attending a funeral.
Deniz left a final message: “Now we’re on the water. Inshalla!” [God willing]We’ll be there safely. We will arrive safely if you pray.
France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin claimed that all of the deaths were directly linked to five men. However, five others have been detained in France.
This morning, police searched Wimereux beaches close to Bolougne after 27 migrants drowned trying to reach the UK.
At a monument to those who died crossing the English Channel, a man holds a sign which reads “Save our Migrant Brothers and Sisters”
A migrant prays at a makeshift migrant camp in Loon Beach – the day after 27 migrants died crossing the Channel – in Dunkerque near Calais
According to the Home Office, 757 migrants were reported as having crossed the Channel on the same day. French authorities prevented another 176 from crossing the Channel, and in total, the disaster occurred in the exact same time period.
On Thursday, another 62 migrants crossed the dangerous waters in their boats. French authorities prevented 30 more from doing the same crossing.
According to the latest figures, 6,869 migrants arrived on 201 boats in November. Another 26,591 made the dangerous journey in 2021. This compares with 8,410 immigrants arriving in 2020 and 1,850 in 2019.
The storm Arwen ripped through Channel Today, raising fears that even more migrants may die trying to cross France-Britain. MPs requested that Emmanuel Macron swamp beaches with police officers to keep boats from setting sail in high winds.
Channel winds of 75 mph are possible, and large waves can be expected to hit Britain’s coastline as the first storm of the season delivers gales and rain through the day and into tomorrow.
People traffickers resisted sending out boats when the winds picked-up throughout the day.
Craig Mackinlay, Kent MP said that Storm Arwen was expected to blow 75 mph winds toward France and Macron needs to make sure that no one crosses the channel today. This would prevent more Channel deaths. However, only a few police officers were visible on the streets near Calais despite being warned.
MailOnline received this statement from him: “The French should maximize ground resources over the 20 mile stretch of high risk beaches north-south of Calais.” The traffickers will try to find the fastest route if it is bad weather.
Natalie Elphicke from Dover, MP for Dover said that “Conditions on English Channel appear set to become even more treacherous over the coming days.”
“It’s imperative that France collaborates with the UKs and EU allies in order to avoid more people being killed. This kind of trip across stormy waters should not be made by anyone. French authorities need to remind people to listen and remain where they are.
Emmanuel Macron exploded at Boris Johnson, today calling him ‘not serious’ and blaming the PM for sending a private letter with demands to end migrant tragedies on the Channel.
Macron was unable to contain his anger at the development. He screamed, “I am surprised that things aren’t taken seriously.” “We do not communicate with leaders through tweets and published letters. We are not whistleblowers.”
Yesterday, the Prime Minister (57) announced that he called upon the French President (43), to accept the return of migrants crossing the Channel. He claimed that this would reduce the temptation for people to “put their lives in the hands” of traffickers and would also lower the risk that they will be returned.
Johnson had been warned by the Elysee Palace not to “exploit” the catastrophe that saw hundreds of migrants die off the French coast early this week. However, Johnson wrote an overnight letter with a 5-point cooperation plan.
The urgent five-point plan outlined measures like joint patrolling with France in order to prevent boats from leaving French beaches.
Johnson also advocated that France be allowed to accept migrants from Britain. This would reduce traffickers’ dangers and have an impact on the current migrant crisis.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Macron exploded in anger at Boris Johnson (pictured), describing the PM as ‘not serious’ because he sent a five-point plan to stop migrant tragedy.
Gerald Darmanin (pictured, French Interior Minister) told Priti Paltel (pictured) that the French counterpart had not published the plan and she was no longer welcome at Sunday’s crisis meeting.
His five-point plan was laid out by him in a tweet: ‘Tonight, President Macron has written me offering to do more to prevent Channel crossings. We can avoid another tragedy like yesterday which resulted in the deaths of 27.
“I am grateful to emergency personnel for their help in this difficult situation.
“Following our discussion last night, I know that President Macron recognizes the urgency of what we face, just as I do,” he said.
“If the people who have reached this country would quickly be returned their money, it would reduce the temptation for traffickers to take lives.
‘This would be our single largest step together in reducing the draw to Northern France. It will also break the business model criminal gangs.
“I believe that these actions and our ongoing cooperation will allow us to address illegal migration, prevent additional families from going through the terrible loss I witnessed yesterday and reduce it.”
Priti Patel was informed by Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister that she had not published the plan.
He said yesterday that Britain was guilty of “bad immigration management” and had been encouraging migrants to come in with benefits, as well as slack labor rules. A spokesperson for Mr Darmanin stated: “We find Boris Johnson’s letter unacceptable and oppose with talks between counterparts.
“Priti Patel was not invited to Sunday’s meeting as a result.
Michel Barnier, a former Brexit negotiator, is currently running for French presidency.
Without the presence of Home Secretary and his aides, summit will take place without him.
British MPs were furious at the decision. Jacob Young, Tory backbencher, tweeted that the French government’s ridiculous behavior seemed to have forgotten that 27 people were killed crossing the Channel two days earlier. It’s as easy as it gets.
Nicola Richards, a Conservative colleague said that France’s childish behavior is becoming increasingly apparent. They don’t want these boats to leave France. 27 people were killed in a few days, yet France would prefer to play petty rather than find solutions.
The tragedy on Wednesday exacerbated animosity between Britain, France and Spain already in conflict over post-Brexit fishing rights and trade rules. Johnson claimed France is at fault, while Darmanin blamed Britain for ‘bad immigration management.