Migrants 'Pose As Syrians' To Help Asylum Claims

Migrants at a government hostel in south London have said some are posing as Syrians to improve their chances of getting asylum.

Another temporary resident admitted to us he changed his story to help his cause as he travelled through Europe.

After trekking across Europe, Muhammed Manlaal flew to London from Germany.

As a Syrian from war-torn Aleppo he was guaranteed asylum in Germany. But he wanted to come to the UK because he speaks English to study here.
He showed us with pride his application to stay in Britain. But the trainee architect says his nationality makes him the envy of some of his fellow hostel residents.

He said: "Lots of people want to be Syrian. Some people say they are Syrian. They take the place for Syrians which is not good."

Muhammed told us there are people in the hostel who are from Iraq, Morocco and Egypt pretending to be Syrian.

Another man told us he was from Iran but admitted changing his story along the way.

In broken English, he said: "In England I tell I am from Iran but in the middle of there I say from Syria. In Greece I say I am from Syria."

The Home office says it has a rigorous application process and carries out language analysis where necessary, but concerns about who is living at the hostel are shared by some in the community.

Greengrocer Muhamed Ali says there should be more checks on the temporary residents.

Source: Sky News