Suella Braverman admits she didn’t know police fired on refugees in Rwanda in 2018

Suella Braverman today insisted Rwanda is a “safe” country to send migrants – although she admitted she was unaware migrants had previously been fired upon by the country’s police.

The home secretary defended the government’s plans to send those arriving illegally to the UK on a one-way ticket to the African nation, despite being challenged over an incident in 2018.

In an interview with the BBC’s Sunday program Laura Kuenssberg, Ms Braverman was grilled by UN claims that live shots were fired in response to a protest by a group of refugees five years ago.

The demonstration by refugees over food rations ended in the killing of 12 people, the home secretary heard when she was shown footage of the aftermath of the 2018 case.

Ms Braverman admitted she was “unfamiliar” with the incident, having previously said she was “convinced it is safe to send refugees to Rwanda”.

But the home secretary pledged to push Rwanda policy forward after a £120million deal was struck with Kigali last April.

Suella Braverman admitted she was unaware that fugitives had previously been fired upon by police in Rwanda

The interior minister was shown footage of the aftermath of the 2018 incident in the African country

Ms Braverman was grilled by the United Nations’ claims that live rounds were fired in response to a protest by a group of refugees five years ago

“That could be 2018, we’re looking to 2023 and beyond,” she said.

“The Supreme Court – senior experts – have examined our agreements with Rwanda in detail and found it to be a safe country and found our agreements to be lawful.

“Rwanda, from where I just returned, is taking in and relocating 100,000 refugees.

“During my last visit to Rwanda, I met some of them from countries in the region.

“They had nothing but gratitude and thanks for Rwanda for the resettlement program that Rwanda has embarked on for over 100,000 people fleeing persecution and conflict.

“They have a track record of successfully resettling and integrating refugees or asylum seekers.

“I think we have good reasons to say that Rwanda is a safe country, it is the right solution for us as we deal with our small boat problem.

“And I believe it will strike the right balance of providing a humanitarian support package for people who are refugees while also being a deterrent to those looking for life in the UK.”

However, the interior minister acknowledged that there was a provision for asylum seekers to contest their transfer to Rwanda should “extreme circumstances” arise.

Although the asylum deal with Rwanda was finalized almost a year ago, no migrants from Britain have yet been sent to the African country.

Ms Braverman this morning refused to commit to migrant flights to Rwanda from this summer, despite earlier suggestions they could start then.

“We are making very steady progress. I will not set a deadline for when the flights will start,” she said in a previous television interview with Sophy Ridge on Sky News Sunday.

Ms Braverman also refused to confirm reports that ministers are close to signing a deal with the Portland Port Authority for “floating shelters” for asylum seekers.

The home secretary defended herself in the face of criticism of the government’s proposed new laws to reduce migrant crossings across the Channel, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed to “stop the boats”.

“I see my role as Home Secretary as ultimately delivering results; Take action for the British people,” she said.

“I see myself as telling the British people the truth for the British people.

“I see myself as the voice of the law-abiding, patriotic, often silent majority.

“I feel strongly informed by the people in my constituency in Fareham who just want us to stop the boats, who want to see proper policing, who want to keep the British people safe.

“That is my aim as Home Secretary and if the BBC or various celebrities are offended then so be it.”