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3 Algerian migrants carry out daring getaway in Rome

Xinhua, May 15, 2015 Adjust font size:

Three Algerian illegal migrants jumped off a moving plane in Rome's Fiumicino airport to avoid being taken back to their home country on Thursday, local media reported.

The three Algerians, who had been denied entry by Italian authorities, forced open a hold door while the plane was moving towards the runway and slid down the exit chutes before dispersing.

The plane's captain stopped maneuvering and police forces rushed to the spot. They did not manage, however, to capture the fugitives, ANSA news agency reported.

A major manhunt has been launched and an investigation was opened at the Fiumicino airport.

The fact triggered the angry reactions of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi government's opponents, who called it unacceptable that Italy was unable to properly manage such a simple repatriation procedure.

Sources from border police quoted by ANSA said more than 1,000 North Africans, mainly Algerian nationals, have been expelled from the Fiumicino airport since October as they were found to try enter Italy illegally while transiting in Fiumicino.

Italy is coping with the emergency of countless migrant arrivals that have led the country's migration centers to collapse. Thousands of sea migrants have died in the Mediterranean while attempting the perilous crossing from Libya to Italy.

Earlier this week, the European Commission (EC) presented a European agenda on the migration issue outlining concrete measures in response to the refugee crisis situation in the Mediterranean.

The agenda includes steps to be taken in the coming years to better manage migration in all its aspects, through combining internal and external policies, making best use of European Union (EU) agencies and tools, and involving all actors.

Immediate actions include tripled capacities and assets for the Frontex EU border patrol agency's joint operations Triton and Poseidon in 2015 and 2016 and EU-wide resettlement scheme by the end of May to offer 20,000 places distributed in all member states to displaced people. Endit