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Naval Ships In Urgent Migrant Rescue Mission
06-06-2015 16:32
In an unprecedented move, all European naval ships in the region have been ordered to go the area.
HMS Bulwark is sailing towards Libya at top speed to take part in an operation to save thousands of migrants stranded at sea.
In an unprecedented move, all European naval ships in the region have been ordered to go the area.
Intelligence has suggested that as many as 14 migrant vessels are on the open water.
It comes as a senior naval officer says that up to half a million migrants are gathering on Libya's border to try and make the dangerous journey to mainland Europe.
Speaking from HMS Bulwark, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has warned migration could be attempted on a colossal scale "if Europe does not get together and start tackling the problem much further back".
He added: "In the short-term, we need more ships from other European navies to come and help here.
"We need to pool more intelligence, we need to find out who is doing this trafficking, how they are making money from it, and we need to go back and smash the gangs involved.
https://news.sky.com/By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent