People smugglers behind tragedy sob for the court

THE four men accused of arranging the doomed boat trip which claimed Aylan Kurdi’s life shed tears as they arrived at court yesterday.

The alleged people traffickers, comforted by their weeping mothers, denied being responsible for the tragedy which killed 12 refugees.

Two of the men were named yesterday as Hassan Ali Salih, pictured left, and Mustafa Halil.

Halil’s mother, Meliha, protested that her son was not involved in trafficking and was trying to get to Europe himself. Meanwhile Salih’s mother, Zehra, broke down in tears and begged for help, insisting that her son was also innocent.

All four of the men – who are Syrian nationals – deny people-trafficking. They were seen sitting outside the courtroom in Bodrum, Turkey, wearing handcuffs.

Aylan, three, his brother Galip, five, and their mother Rehan, 35, were among those who died when their dinghy capsized after they set off from Bodrum in a bid to reach the Greek island of Kos. A police source said survivors of the voyage claimed they had paid the detained men to help organise the trip. One suspect reportedly admitted accepting money to act as a translator.

Police said they were still seeking a fifth suspect, believed to be a Turkish national.

A spokesman for the court said the men had not yet been charged, but gave statements yesterday. The hearing was closed to the Press and public.