GETTY Boris Johnson said boats carrying migrants should be turned back to Libya

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The Foreign Secretary said boats should be turned back as close to Libya as possible to stop migrants even attempting the crossing. Mr Johnson said a European Union naval force deployed in the Mediterranean should prevent the boats from reaching Italy. Italy has taken in more than 400,000 migrants in the last three years with many saved from rickety wooden boats pushed out to sea by North African people smugglers.

I think personally the boats should be turned back as close to the shore as possible so they don't reach the Italian mainland Boris Johnson

The European Union launched Operation Sophia in 2015 in response to the crisis, with a mandate to disrupt the people trafficking networks and destroy smugglers' boats. Mr Johnson said part of the mission's work was to return boats back to shore after they had put to sea. He said: "I think personally the boats should be turned back as close to the shore as possible so they don't reach the Italian mainland and that there is more of a deterrent.

ANADOLU Thousands of migrants have been rescued from boats making the dangerous crossing

"I think I am right in saying we have turned back about 200,000 migrants," Mr Johnson said, before a nearby diplomat hastily corrected him. "Sorry, saved, saved. Thank you. We have saved 200,000 migrants and turned back 240 boats." It is illegal to turn back migrant boats once they reach international waters and a UN-backed government in Libya has not invited European ships into its territorial waters, saying this would undermine its own state-building efforts.

ANADOLU It is illegal to turn back migrant boats once they reach international waters

LIGHTROCKET A total of 124,500 migrants have arrived in Italy alone since the start of 2016

It was not immediately clear in what context the boats mentioned by Mr Johnson were turned back to land. There was no immediate comment from Operation Sophia officials in Rome. A total of 124,500 migrants have arrived in Italy alone since the start of 2016, the country’s home office has said.

EPA Boris Johnson is in Italy to discuss Brexit

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