Latest news with #GrenadinesPoliceForce
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Police investigate vessel with 11 decomposed bodies washed ashore in Caribbean
Police have launched an investigation into a vessel that washed ashore on an Eastern Caribbean island that contained human remains of at least 11 people in an advanced state of decomposition. The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) said it received a report at about 10:45 a.m. Monday that a suspicious vessel had been discovered along the coastline of the island of Canouan near Little Bay and Cherry Hill. Officers from the Canouan police station responded and discovered the remains of 11 people on the boat. Police said the boat measured 45 feet long, 12 feet wide and 6 feet deep, and it was found grounded in the area. Family Of American Found Dead On Bahamas Beach Fears 'Evidence Will Disappear,' Pleads For Help The remains of the people onboard were in what police called an "advanced state of decomposition," and some of the remains were not fully intact. Read On The Fox News App Investigators recovered several passports from the boat, which appear to be from the West African country of the Republic of Mali. While passports have been recovered, police have not officially identified any of the bodies, and the investigation remains ongoing. Bahamas Officials Reveal American Man's Cause Of Death After Body Found On Beach The RSVGPF said it is working closely with regional and international partners to confirm the origins of the boat and the identities of those onboard. The human remains have since been transported to the island of St. Vincent, where they are being held at the Kingstown mortuary for further forensic and investigative procedures. "This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public's interest in the matter," police said. "We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity." American Man On Bahamas Family Vacation Found Dead After Leaving Dinner To Get Jacket: Report The department added that it is committed to pursuing every lead and ensuring all appropriate protocols are followed. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 Do Not Travel advisory for the country of Mali in July 2023. The State Department's reasoning for not traveling to the country is due to crime, terrorism and kidnapping. "Violent crime, such as kidnapping and armed robbery, is common in Mali. Violent crime is a particular concern during local holidays and seasonal events in Bamako, its suburbs, and Mali's southern regions," the advisory states. "Terrorist and armed groups continue plotting kidnappings and attacks in Mali," the advisory on Mali adds. "They may attack with little or no warning, targeting nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, places of worship, international diplomatic missions, and other locations frequented by foreigners. Attacks may target Malian government offices and infrastructure, in addition to locations frequented by Westerners."Original article source: Police investigate vessel with 11 decomposed bodies washed ashore in Caribbean
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abandoned Boat Found with 11 Bodies Onboard 'in Advanced State of Decomposition' on Caribbean Island: Police
A vessel containing the remains of 11 people was found on an island that is part of the Caribbean country St. Vincent and the Grenadines on May 26 The remains were said to be "in an advanced state of decomposition" and were found alongside "several" passports that appear to be from the Republic of Mali, police said The Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force continues to investigate the incidentPolice are investigating after a vessel washed up onto an island in the Caribbean containing 11 bodies. On Monday, May 26, the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force issued a statement revealing that the boat was found in "the vicinity of Little Bay, Cherry Hill, on the island of Canouan." "During the initial examination of the vessel, what appear to be decomposed human remains were found onboard," the police force wrote in their statement. "The identities and circumstances surrounding the discovery are yet to be determined." Additional details were shared in an updated statement released on Tuesday, May 27. In it, the police force revealed that they received a report about "a suspicious vessel found along the coastline" around 10:45 a.m. The Canouan Police Station responded to the scene and began an investigation into the discovery. Police say that the boat was 45 ft. long and roughly 12 ft. wide. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The 11 bodies on the boat were "in an advanced state of decomposition," with police noting that "some were not fully intact." They have not yet been identified but have been "transported to mainland St. Vincent." They will remain at the Kingstown mortuary as the investigation continues. Several passports that appear to be from the Republic of Mali were also found on the vessel, police said. The Republic of Mali is a West African country that received the highest level of travel advisory warning from the United States Department of State in July 2023. The government agency cited risk of "crime, terrorism, and kidnapping" for those who visit. "This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public's interest in the matter. We assure you that the RSVGPF is treating this investigation with the utmost seriousness and sensitivity. We are committed to pursuing every lead and ensuring that all appropriate protocols are followed," the police statement read. The police force vowed that they were collaborating with "regional and international partners" to "verify the origins of the vessel and the identities of the individuals onboard." PEOPLE has reached out to the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force for additional comment. According to reporting by ABC News, a similar discovery was made on St. Kitts and Nevis — another country in the Caribbean — in January. In that incident, 19 bodies were discovered, "some with identifications from Mali." Read the original article on People
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Police: 11 bodies found in Caribbean boat likely African refugees
May 28 (UPI) -- The bodies of 11 people believed to be African migrants were discovered inside a boat in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines island chain, local police confirmed. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali" in northwest Africa, said police Superintendent Junior Simmons. On Monday, island police received a call around 10:45 a.m. local time to report a 45-foot vessel that washed on shore in Little Bay on the island of Canouan to the 35 island archipelago's south where civilians of African descent represent some 66% of the Caribbean island nation's population. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact," Simmons said in a video. According to officials, the bodies were transported to the mainland island St. Vincent for further forensic analysis at Kingstown mortuary. "This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public's interest in the matter," officials in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said Tuesday in a Facebook post, adding they continue to work closely with regional and international partners to verify the vessel's origin and the identity of those onboard. This followed a number of other similar events in recent months involving fleeing foreign refugees likely seeking refuge from war-torn torn nations in the hands of dictatorial regimes. Two vessels sank on May 9 while transporting more than 500 refugees via south Asia from Bangladesh and Myanmar that saw only 87 survivors. In January, 19 bodies were discovered on a boat in the nearby St. Kitts and Nevis islands which officials say likely was at sea for an extended period due to the advanced stages of bodily decomposition, with some victims also likely from west Africa's Mali more than 3,800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The UN's migration agency in March reported nearly 9,000 people died on migration routes last year, which marked its deadliest year on record. A United Nations spokesperson stated the Malian migrants probably tried to escape a "cycle of violence" and aimed for the Canary Islands, but that it was "highly unlikely" they were shooting for the Caribbean where they ended up drifting to, given the boat's small size. "We cannot talk on behalf of those who have passed away, but our best guess is that they wanted to take the Atlantic route to get to the Canary Islands," Eujin Byun, a UN refugee agency spokesperson, told the BBC Wednesday. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway to officially confirm the identity of all 11 bodies. "Desperate people make desperate decisions," concluded the UN's Byun.
UPI
28-05-2025
- UPI
Police: 11 bodies found in Caribbean boat likely African refugees
"Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali" in northwest Africa, police Superintendent Junior Simmons said Wednesday. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact," he added. Photo By Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force May 28 (UPI) -- The bodies of 11 people believed to be African migrants were discovered inside a boat in the St. Vincent and the Grenadines island chain, local police confirmed. "Several passports were recovered at the scene which appear to be from the Republic of Mali" in northwest Africa, said police Superintendent Junior Simmons. On Monday, island police received a call around 10:45 a.m. local time to report a 45-foot vessel that washed on shore in Little Bay on the island of Canouan to the 35 island archipelago's south where civilians of African descent represent some 66% of the Caribbean island nation's population. "The remains were in an advanced state of decomposition, and some were not fully intact," Simmons said in a video. According to officials, the bodies were transported to the mainland island St. Vincent for further forensic analysis at Kingstown mortuary. "This incident is deeply concerning, and we understand the public's interest in the matter," officials in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said Tuesday in a Facebook post, adding they continue to work closely with regional and international partners to verify the vessel's origin and the identity of those onboard. This followed a number of other similar events in recent months involving fleeing foreign refugees likely seeking refuge from war-torn torn nations in the hands of dictatorial regimes. Two vessels sank on May 9 while transporting more than 500 refugees via south Asia from Bangladesh and Myanmar that saw only 87 survivors. In January, 19 bodies were discovered on a boat in the nearby St. Kitts and Nevis islands which officials say likely was at sea for an extended period due to the advanced stages of bodily decomposition, with some victims also likely from west Africa's Mali more than 3,800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The UN's migration agency in March reported nearly 9,000 people died on migration routes last year, which marked its deadliest year on record. A United Nations spokesperson stated the Malian migrants probably tried to escape a "cycle of violence" and aimed for the Canary Islands, but that it was "highly unlikely" they were shooting for the Caribbean where they ended up drifting to, given the boat's small size. "We cannot talk on behalf of those who have passed away, but our best guess is that they wanted to take the Atlantic route to get to the Canary Islands," Eujin Byun, a UN refugee agency spokesperson, told the BBC Wednesday. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway to officially confirm the identity of all 11 bodies. "Desperate people make desperate decisions," concluded the UN's Byun.
