The Armed Forces of Malta brought to Malta a group of 28 migrants after they were spotted yesterday by a tug boat some 72 nautical miles south of Malta.

The Research and Coordination Centre of Piraeus in Greece contacted the AFM at 2.40am informing them that the tug-boat Alexandra 5 had spotted a boat which was heading north. The boat was carrying 28 would-be migrants, three of whom had jumped into the sea.

The tug boat was instructed to proceed towards Malta as the nearest port so as to link-up with patrol boat P52 for a mid-sea transfer of the migrants.

The patrol boat entered Haywharf at 2.45 pm.

Meanwhile, a group of 28 irregular migrants landed in the early hours of yesterday morning at St Thomas Bay, Marsascala.

The police were informed at 3am that a group of migrants had landed and immediately informed the Armed Forces of Malta.The group consisted of 25 males and three females.