Greek coastguards accused of throwingmigrants overboard to their deaths | BBC News

The Greek coastguard has caused the deaths ofdozens of migrants in the Mediterranean over athree-year period, witnesses say, including nine peoplewho were deliberately thrown into the water.

They are among more than 40 people alleged to havedied as a result of being forced out of Greek territorialwaters, or taken back out to sea after reaching Greekislands, a BBC investigation suggests.

In five of the incidents, migrants said they were throwndirectly into the sea by Greek officials. In four casesthey said they had landed on Greek islands but wererounded up. In other incidents, migrants said they hadbeen put on inflatable rafts which deflated andappeared to have been punctured.

The Greek coastguards rejected all accusations ofillegal activities. They said they acted withprofessionalism and with "a strong respect for human rights".

The BBC showed footage of 12 people being loadedinto a Greek coastguard boat and then abandoned ona dinghy to the former head of special operations forthe Greek coastguard. Speaking while unaware that hewas being recorded, he said it was "obviously illegal"and "an international crime".

The Greek government has long been accused ofremoving migrants by forcibly pushing people in boatsback towards Turkey, which is illegal under international law.

Reeta Chakrabarti presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Paul Adams.