GETTY The Spanish Maritime and Coastguard Agency rescued 31 immigrants

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The Spanish Maritime and Coastguard Agency rescued the 31 immigrants, including two babies, travelling on three boats in the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar while they were heading towards the coast of Tarifa, Cadiz. Using the ship LS Hermes, the maritime agency discovered the first boats just off the coast of British Overseas Territory – rescuing eight men, two women and two babies of sub-Saharan origin. Twelve crew members were also rescued.

GETTY The three boats were found off the coast of Gibraltar

Shortly after, the agency’s helicopter then spotted two more ships making course for Tarifa and called on a nearby fishing boat to help cary out the rescue mission. In the second boat, ten men were discovered and a further nine were found in the third ship. The maritime agency has since transferred the 19 men to Tarifa where volunteers from the Red Cross were waiting for all 31 rescued immigrants.

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It is believed the agency was tipped off by a port in Morocco, who warned the authorities about the departure of a boat heading for Europe. The incident comes after a Royal Navy patrol boat fired flares at a Spanish vessel off the coast of Gibraltar after it attempted to drop a sonar buoy for conducting geological research in British waters.

GOOGLE The boats were heading to the Spanish coast

GETTY Two babies were among those rescued