Two small boat migrants wanted for gang rape welcomed to UK and allowed to claim benefits
Two small boat migrants were accepted and granted asylum in the UK despite being wanted in Denmark for gang rape.
Danish police issued an international alert for Awedin Fikak and Henok Tekleab, both 27-year-old Eritreans, with photos of them before they set off on their journey across the Channel in October 2024.
But authorities gave them taxpayers’ cash and free housing after raising questions about checks on people arriving in the UK.
According to a court, Fikak was granted refugee status and social rights within six months.
When he was belatedly arrested in Birmingham three weeks ago, he shamelessly claimed that ‘a human right to family life’ should prevent extradition because he had a brother in London.
Shockingly, after spending almost 18 months in the UK on taxpayers’ support, both men only returned to Denmark on Thursday to face justice.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: ‘The fact that these men came illegally and were able to claim refugee status and benefits while being warned they were being arrested for heinous crimes shows that Labor has once again lost control of our borders.’
The terrible case started in August 2024 in Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city. According to information she gave to the police, a 37-year-old local woman met an immigrant in a bar and was imprisoned in an apartment. There she was gang raped by three men for six hours and they filmed it.
Westminster magistrates in London heard Awedin Fikak (pictured) was one of 973 migrants who crossed into Britain by boat on October 5, 2024.
Henok Tekleab, 27, (pictured) also arrived by Eritrean boat and received the same taxpayer-funded support. He was extradited to Denmark to face justice for the crime he committed together with Fikak
His ordeal only ended when he escaped. A 33-year-old Eritrean man was quickly charged, convicted and sentenced to three years in prison, with orders to deport him from Denmark and ban him from returning.
It was a few days before that security camera footage of the other two suspects, Fikak and Tekleab, was obtained from a convenience store near the scene.
A spokesman for the East Jutland police in Denmark said an international alert was issued in September 2024 with the couple’s names and photos.
By then, however, Fikak and Tekleab had fled to northern France and from there journeyed across the Channel to Britain.
Westminster judges in London heard Fikak was one of 973 migrants who crossed into Britain by boat on October 5, 2024, following his arrest earlier this month.
Fikak quickly entered the asylum system and was provided with housing and financial assistance. Tekleab also came in by boat and received the same taxpayer-funded support.
Approving Fikak’s extradition to Denmark, District Judge Michael Snow noted: ‘Fikak entered the UK on a small boat from France in October 2024.
‘In other words, illegal entry. He states that he was granted refugee status about a year ago.
‘He lives in a shared house. He is unemployed and on benefits.’
After Fikak was extradited back to Copenhagen on Thursday, both Eritreans are finally awaiting trial for gang rape in Denmark.
Tekleab was returned in February after his arrest in December.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Common criminals have no place in the UK.
‘Both men were extradited to Denmark to face justice.’
A source familiar with the case explained: ‘The Danes had certainly issued an announcement; However, when Fikak and Tekleab entered the asylum system, the Ministry of Internal Affairs was not aware of this and asylum support was automatically followed.’
