MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino seafarer is in critical condition and two others are recovering after being assaulted while on routine shore leave in Bristol, England, Philippine officials said Wednesday.
The sailors, crew members of the cargo vessel MV Arklow Beacon, were attacked by a group of individuals near the port on July 31. U.K. authorities have apprehended several suspects in connection with the assault, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said during a media briefing.
The motive for the attack remains under investigation.
The two seafarers who sustained minor injuries returned to the Philippines on Aug. 9. They are receiving government assistance, including financial aid, medical checkups, and psychological debriefing, Cacdac said.
The third sailor remains in an intensive care unit in Bristol. The Department of Migrant Workers is facilitating travel for his family; his daughter has already arrived in England, and arrangements are underway for his wife to join them.
The Philippine Embassy in London, led by Ambassador Teodoro Locsin Jr., is closely monitoring the victim’s condition and coordinating with U.K. police on the ongoing criminal investigation.
Cacdac cautioned against making assumptions about why the sailors were attacked while on a standard shore leave.
“Let’s just wait for the investigation results. There are many rumors and speculations, but it appears to be a physical assault on three of our seafarers,” Cacdac said, adding that authorities have yet to determine if the men were specifically targeted.
