CHIOS – Nine individuals arrested upon the arrival of a dinghy carrying migrants and refugees to Chios are to face serious criminal charges for human trafficking and resisting arrest, Greek authorities said on Thursday.

A Somali, a Syrian and an Afghan national are to be charged with causing the sinking of their boat and violating laws on human trafficking. The three are accused of slashing the inflatable dinghy carrying the migrants with a knife in order to force coast guard officers to mount a rescue operation and collect its occupants, taking them to Chios.

The other six people under arrest were charged with resisting arrest and civil disobedience. After their indictment they were released but will remain with the other refugees and migrants arriving on the island in March. They are to be sent to a detention centre on the mainland until they are deported.