Six bodies discovered in marsh at migrant crossing point in Canada
Six bodies including a child are discovered in marsh at migrant crossing point near US-Canada border in Quebec hours after overturned boat was spotted in river
- The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service said they were awaiting the results of post-mortem and toxicology tests
- At least one of the deceased was a child with a Canadian passport
Published: 11:02, 31 March 2023 | Updated: 11:45, 31 March 2023
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service said late Thursday it was investigating the discovery of six bodies, including one child, in St Lawrence river, a marshy area of Quebec near Canada[2]'s border with New York state.
Police said they were awaiting the results of post-mortem and toxicology tests to determine the cause of death.
At least one of the deceased was a child with a Canadian passport, Police Chief Shawn Dulude said. The ages or the nationalities of the other victims were not immediately known.
They said they were still trying to identify the dead and their status in Canada. It wasn't immediately known if they were migrants trying to cross the border.
Earlier in the afternoon, police spotted an overturned boat in the river.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service said late Thursday it was investigating the discovery of six bodies, including one child, in St Lawrence river, a marshy area of Quebec near Canada's border with New York state
Earlier in the afternoon, police spotted an overturned helicopter in the river
'The first body was located around 5:00 P.M. in a marsh area in Tsi Snaihne, Akwesasne, Quebec,' police said in a statement on social media.
'There is no threat to the public at this time.'
Last month, the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Police reported a recent increase in illegal entries through their lands and waterways.
The statement said some migrants required hospitalization. And in January the force noted people involved in human smuggling had attempted to utilize shorelines along the St. Lawrence River in the area.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a plan last week to close a loophole to an immigration agreement
U.S.
President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a plan last week to close a loophole to an immigration agreement that allowed thousands of asylum-seeking migrants to move between the two countries along a back road linking New York state to Quebec.
The deal closing an illegal border crossing point about 105 kilometers (66 miles) east of Akwesasne took effect Saturday.
References
- ^ Rohan Gupta (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Canada (www.dailymail.co.uk)