Britain is poised to send 200 Royal Marines to the Mediterranean to lead a blockade aimed at “smashing” Libya’s people-trafficking gangs.
The move, which would see the UK spearhead a multinational operation off the coast of North Africa, comes amid claims that Islamic State fanatics are using the refugee crisis to smuggle fighters into Britain and Europe.
The UK’s leading role in the blockade was described as the “quid pro quo” for David Cameron’s insistence that Britain would not accept migrants fleeing Libya for Europe.
Many are genuine asylum seekers fleeing war zones but thousands of others are would-be economic migrants.
Two weeks ago the Sunday Express revealed pressure had been put on Downing Street by Italy, France and Germany to accept up to 25,000 North African migrants, as the humanitarian crisis reaches epidemic proportions.
The new proposals will instead see Britain provide a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel, thought to be RFA Lyme Bay, to form the core of the blockade.
Part of its remit will be to destroy vessels used by people traffickers so that they cannot be used again.
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