Afghan Sikhs found in shipping container in Britain
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 17 August 2014 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Afghan Sikhs found in shipping container in Britain, 17 August 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54003f165.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 17, 2014
British authorities investigating the death of a migrant inside a shipping container say the victim and 34 survivors are Afghans from the country's Sikh community.
Police initially thought they were Indian.
The group arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex, a port east of London, on August 16 on a ship from Belgium.
One man was found dead and the others were taken to hospital to be treated for dehydration and hypothermia.
The migrants included 13 children aged between one and 12.
British police launched a homicide investigation following the death of the man.
Belgian police say they are tracing movements of the truck that delivered the container, with the Afghans presumably inside, to a Belgian port on August 15.
Afghanistan's 3,000-member Sikh community has endured a long history of religious discrimination and harassment.
Based on reporting by AP and the BBC
Link to original story on RFE/RL website