Monday evening news briefing: Migrants avoid move to Bibby Stockholm over ‘severe fear of water’

Good evening. Asylum seekers have finally stepped foot on Britain’s first migrant barge, as part of ministers’ attempts to reduce reliance on costly hotels. However, Charles Hymas reports that up to 20 migrants successfully avoided moving onto the barge after citing “severe fear of water” and trauma from seeing people drown at sea.

First arrivals flanked by police and security guards

The first coach-load of men aged 18 to 65 arrived on the Bibby Stockholm in Portland, Dorset, flanked by police and security guards on Monday. 

The vessel will hold up to 500 men awaiting an asylum decision, possibly by the end of the week, as part of the Government’s attempts to stop taxpayers paying £6 million a day to house 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels. 

The floating three-storey, 93-metre long block was docked off the Dorset coast three weeks ago but health and safety concerns, especially around fire risks, delayed the arrival of its occupants.

Up to 20 migrants blocked their move over ‘severe fear of water’

However, Charles Hymas reports that up to 20 migrants who had been told by the Government they were being moved to the barge have mounted legal challenges alleging Home Office officials failed to screen them for suitability. 

They were supported by the charity Care4Calais, whose chief executive Steve Smith said none of the 20 asylum seekers they were helping went onto the barge as their legal representatives successfully had their transfers from hotels cancelled. 

“These 20 range from survivors of torture to people who have been beaten, shot at, some arrested, some traumatised by seeing their friends drown at sea and who therefore have a severe fear of water,” he told The Telegraph.

Extinction Rebellion activist stabbed boyfriend to death as he pleaded ‘I love you’

An Extinction Rebellion activist stabbed her boyfriend to death as he pleaded “I love you”, a court heard.

 Blaze Lily Wallace, a 28-year-old law student, was jailed for life on Monday after following her fiancé Samuel Mayo down the street after a domestic dispute last summer at their home in south west London, and fatally wounding him. 

Witnesses heard him repeatedly shout: “Please Blaze. I love you, please Blaze,” before he bled to death at the side of the road, begging motorists and passers-by to call an ambulance.

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