Man to appear at Brighton Magistrates’ after Newhaven port incident
Anas Al Mustafa, of Heather Crescent, Swansea, has been charged with assisting unlawful entry to the UK following the major response at the port on Friday.
Six people were taken to hospital.
The 42-year-old has been remanded in custody and will appear at Brighton[1] Magistrates’ Court.
On Friday, police said two men had been arrested in connection with the incident, one on suspicion of people smuggling and the other on suspicion of entering the UK illegally.
Emergency services including ambulances, police and Border Force were in attendance at the incident.
Ferry operator DFDS, which runs services between Newhaven and Dieppe in Normandy, northern France, previously confirmed migrants were found on board the Seven Sisters vessel and said immediate medical attention was provided.
Shocked passengers told how a ferry company worker used an axe to smash his way into the lorry, which had travelled on a ferry from Dieppe, France, after hearing banging from inside.
One French passenger, who was heading to Brighton with his family for a holiday, told The Argus: “A guy from the ferry company said he went inside the garage and heard people banging from inside the lorry.
“It was a small lorry, a refrigerated one. The guy opened it up with an axe. We saw people being taken away with oxygen masks on a trolley.
“It was very emotional to me and for people watching.”
He also said that passengers were taken off the ferry but had to wait at the port for two hours.
“We only found out when we arrived. The company have been very kind with us but they seemed very shocked too,” he said.