Four Afghan boys, aged 13 to 16, arrested over alleged rape of girl, 15, at Dover school arrived in UK on small boats a year ago - amid claims 'one carried out attack as others pinned her down'

  • One of the boys allegedly raped the girl while the other three acted as 'lookouts'

Four teenagers who arrived in the UK on small boats as asylum seekers have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dover.  

The attack took place at a school in Kent and involved Afghan boys who arrived unaccompanied last year.

Kent police confirmed they were investigating the incident and said that the four boys had been released on bail while inquiries continued.

Sources close to the investigation told The Times that three of the boys are alleged to have pinned the girl down and acted as lookouts to stop her getting away while the fourth boy raped her. 

Four teenagers (not pictured) who arrived in the UK on small boats as asylum seekers have been arrested in connection with an alleged rape of a 15-year-old girl in Dover. Pictured: Migrants arriving in Dover, Kent on January 25

Late last week one of the boys, aged 15, was arrested on suspicion of rape and the three others, aged between 13 and 16, were arrested on suspicion of facilitating the attack. 

A spokesman for Kent police said it is 'investigating a report of a sexual offence involving a teenage girl and a teenage boy in Dover on the afternoon of Monday 6 February 2023. 

'Four boys were arrested as part of the investigation and have since been released on bail while enquiries continue.'

The teenagers, who came to Britain unaccompanied, are reportedly in the care of Kent County Council's social services.

The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed.

The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed

The total number of migrants who have crossed the English Channel this year has exceeded 2,000, Home Office figures revealed

On Friday 110 people in three boats crossed the Channel, bringing the total number of people brought to the UK this year to 2,070. 

There have now been more crossings in 2023 than in January and February of 2022 combined. Analysis of the provisional figures shows 1,180 people were brought to the UK in January 2023, compared to 1,339 in January 2022.

So far, 890 people have been brought to shore in 20 boats in February 2023.

Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. 

Afghans are said to make up a large population of the unaccompanied minors entering the UK. 

They are reportedly the second largest group of nationalities crossing the Channel.

Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. Pictured: Police forensics officers wearing protective gear walk at the Port of Dover after a small boat loaded with migrants capsized in the Channel in December

Analysts estimate that a fifth of migrants who entered the UK via small boats last year were unaccompanied children. Pictured: Police forensics officers wearing protective gear walk at the Port of Dover after a small boat loaded with migrants capsized in the Channel in December

Ministers have not ruled out deporting unaccompanied children as part of the proposed plan to send migrants to Rwanda.

The controversial scheme has been mired in legal challenges and so far no flights carrying migrants to the African nation have departed. 

Yesterday, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield, Andrew Mitchell, said the scheme was worth exploring but it was not the 'whole answer' and argued it will have only a marginal benefit in stopping small boats crossing the Channel.

He also rejected the idea that the UK could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) over plans to tackle the problem of small boats carrying migrants across the Channel.

On Channel 4's Andrew Neil Show, Mr Mitchell – who was critical of the Rwanda scheme as a backbencher – said if it was to have 'any' benefit, it would not be the 'whole of the effort we have to make'.

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