Royal Navy Ships Rescue Hundreds Of Migrants

Hundreds of migrants have been rescued in the Mediterranean by two Royal Navy ships.

HMS Enterprise and HMS Richmond, part of the EU Naval Force Operation in the area, rescued a total of 541 migrants who were being transported by smugglers in unseaworthy boats.

The rescue comes three days after HMS Richmond arrived "on task", having been given new powers to board and seize smuggling vessels, as well as detain people suspected of being migrant smugglers or human traffickers.

Even before HMS Richmond's arrival, she was involved in identifying people smugglers on her way to her starting location, leading to the detention of suspected people traffickers.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: "The Royal Navy continues to demonstrate its invaluable work in the Mediterranean, saving 541 vulnerable lives.

"Our focus remains on hitting the criminal gangs responsible for endangering the lives of innocent people.

"We are determined to tackle this at source. The new powers we have to board boats and detain the smugglers will help us put an end to this trade in human misery."

The migrants have now been transported to the Norwegian support ship, Fiem Pilote, where they were to be taken ashore to allow the British ships to return to their tasks.

Up to and including this latest rescue mission, the Royal Navy ships involved in the Mediterranean have rescued almost 7,000 migrants since May.