Italy Intercepts Migrants from War-Torn Countries
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File photo. Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images(ROME) — Italian officials have rescued more than 1500 people fleeing war in overcrowded boats in the Mediterranean Sea just off the southern coast of Italy.
As many as 25 children were in the 13 boats packed with hundreds of migrants trying to make it to Europe from Syria, Somalia and other war-torn countries.
The latest rescue puts the number of migrants intercepted in the last two days at well above 2,000 — unusual for this time of year, when weather conditions are poor and few people embark on the dangerous crossing.
Authorities have arrested eight Egyptian men for human trafficking. The men are allegedly involved in a ring that transports migrants in large boats off the coast of North Africa and then transfers them into small, rickety boats for the remainder of the journey.
Tens of thousands of people have drowned risking the crossing.
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