Two men from Hillingdon, west London face extradition to France in connection with the death of a young girl who drowned while attempting to cross the Channel in a small boat.

The youngster died after boarding the boat on a beach near Wimereux, not far from Calais, on 23 April, the National Crime Agency (NCA) reports.

The suspects, Al Tahir Abdullah Adam, 24, and Musaab Bashir Altijani, 19, who are both Sudanese nationals, were arrested by NCA officers in Hillingdon on 30 May.

NCA officers say they are wanted in France on suspicion of causing the death.

Both suspects appeared before Westminster Magistrates on Saturday, 1 June where they were remanded in custody until their next appearance on 7 June.

NCA Deputy Director of Investigations Craig Turner says: "These arrests are the result of an investigation led by the French authorities and supported by the NCA alongside other law enforcement partners.

"We said at the time of this tragic incident that we were determined to do all we can to identify those responsible for this event and bring them to justice, that remains the case."

Three men, a woman and the girl died in the tragic incident involving a dinghy carrying more than 100 people.

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About 49 people were rescued, while 58 others are said to have refused to leave the boat and continued their journey towards the UK.

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