Updated: Four illegal immigrants land in Haywharf

Four illegal immigrants in need of medical attention have been taken to Haywharf by the Armed Forces of Malta.

The police said the group consisted of two men, a woman and a baby. The woman and baby are still in hospital under observation.

The AFM said that the four were part of a group of 80 who were travelling towards Italy in a 10-metre rubber dinghy.

They were sighted yesterday morning by a German border police helicopter on a Frontex patrol to the south of Malta. The AFM sent a patrol boat to the reported location and ascertained that the group included 16 women.

Throughout the rest of their journey, the illegal immigrants were also overflown by an Italian aircraft and a helicopter, the latter sent out from Lampedusa.

Subsequently, an Italian navy vessel approached the AFM patrol boat when the migrants' dinghy was 25 nautical miles from Capo Passero, Sicily.

By noon today, another two Italian patrol boats reached the area to render assistance as required.

The migrants were later taken onboard the 'Denaro' where they were examined by a medic onboard. According to Italian media reports, they were being taken back to Libya.