Police forces from six countries have targeted hundreds of social media accounts involved in the people smuggling trade from Belarus.
Officers from the Baltic states, Finland, Poland and Germany identified 455 accounts promoting the sale of counterfeit identity documents and for smuggling services. The accounts have been flagged with social media companies to take down, said the European policing organisation Europol.
Thousands of migrants – many from Iraq and Syria – have tried to use Belarus this year as a jumping-off point to reach Europe after securing month-long visas to the country.
European governments say they have been exploited by the government of President Alexander Lukashenko and a network of people smugglers and agents to try to stoke a crisis in the EU.
Migrants were able to reach Belarus by plane after it issued visas in what European governments describe as a tactic in a hybrid war to punish the EU for imposing sanctions on Belarus after allegedly rigged elections last year that returned Mr Lukashenko for a sixth term.
The EU has backed Poland’s robust approach to policing its eastern border with Belarus which has included pushing back migrants into Belarus despite them claiming asylum, according to rights groups and migrants.
The route from Belarus was “heavily advertised” on messaging and social platforms, said Europol which co-ordinated the attempted takedown. “The misuse of these online platforms by facilitators led to a large increase of departures and irregular border crossings,” it said.
It did not say how many of the 455 sites had been taken down. Smugglers have used Facebook accounts and the encrypted messaging system Telegram to profit from the desperation of migrants to reach Europe.
Thousands gathered at the border in November as Poland flooded the area with military and border officials to stop migrants breaking through a border fence.
Those that made it into Poland were faced with a long walk in freezing conditions through the forests in Poland’s east before being collected by smugglers in vehicles.
Soldiers manned checkpoints on the roads from the borders where they stopped cars to check they were not carrying migrants.
The numbers attempting to cross the border has eased in recent weeks as the death toll mounts in the harsh conditions.
At least a dozen people have died during the attempts to cross into EU-member Poland with many wading through freezing waters at the border.
But Lithuania on Monday warned that more people could attempt to cross in the coming days as Belarus prepares to close a warehouse that had been a home for thousands of migrants near the border with Poland.
Agne Bilotaite, the Interior Minister of Lithuania, which also borders Belarus, said up to 4,000 migrants could be in Belarus.
“We have received information about Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko order to clear out illegal migrants from the warehouse at Bruzgi border crossing and Minsk, so there will be attempts soon to push these migrants into Lithuania, Poland and Latvia," she said.
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
Top 10 in the F1 drivers' standings
1. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari 202 points
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes-GP 188
3. Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes-GP 169
4. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing 117
5. Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari 116
6. Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing 67
7. Sergio Perez, Force India 56
8. Esteban Ocon, Force India 45
9. Carlos Sainz Jr, Toro Rosso 35
10. Nico Hulkenberg, Renault 26
RESULTS
5pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
Winner Thabet Al Reef, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Abdallah Al Hammadi (trainer)
5.30pm Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Blue Diamond, Pat Cosgrave, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6pm Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Hameem, Adrie de Vries, Abdallah Al Hammadi
6.30pm Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
Winner Shoja’A Muscat, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7pm Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Heros De Lagarde, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
7.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
Winner Good Tidings, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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THE DETAILS
Deadpool 2
Dir: David Leitch
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Justin Dennison, Zazie Beetz
Four stars
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204-cylinder%202.0L%20TSI%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20clutch%207-speed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320HP%20%2F%20235kW%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20400Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20%2449%2C709%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Easter%20Sunday
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Jay%20Chandrasekhar%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Jo%20Koy%2C%20Tia%20Carrere%2C%20Brandon%20Wardell%2C%20Lydia%20Gaston%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Desert Warrior
Starring: Anthony Mackie, Aiysha Hart, Ben Kingsley
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Rating: 3/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani