Shelagh Fogarty 1pm - 4pm
Police find migrant Iraqi boy wandering beside M6
19 December 2019, 06:23
Police in Birmingham have found a boy wandering on the M6 after he illegally entered the UK and was separated from his parents.
The Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) said they found the boy, 15, on Wednesday night after responding to reports of a pedestrian on the motorway.
"He was split up from his parents a few days ago, and doesn't know which country they're in," the CMPG said in a statement.
West Midlands Police said his age has not been verified and it is understood he is from Iraq.
He was found walking on the central reservation towards junction 7 for Great Barr at about 10pm.
The boy was picked up by a patrol car and taken into emergency care for the night.
A spokesperson said the matter has now been passed to the immigration services.
It’s impossible to imagine how scared someone would be, not knowing where they are, not knowing where their parents are, unable to speak the language.
— CMPG (@CMPG) December 18, 2019
We’ve taken him to a place of safety with food and water until social services can come and take him to care.
"It's impossible to imagine how scared someone would be, not knowing where they are, not knowing where their parents are, unable to speak the language," police tweeted.
"We've taken him to a place of safety with food and water until social services can come and take him to care."
The news comes just days after 69 illegal migrants were found in small boats off the coast of Kent.