Notorious people smuggler wanted in Europe arrested in northern Iraq

A group of people thought to be migrants arrive in an inflatable boat (Gareth Fuller/PA)

One of Europe’s most notorious human smugglers has been arrested in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq, security officials said.

The regional government’s security agency said it had arrested Barzan Majeed, known as “the Scorpion”, in the area of Sulaymaniyah, upon a request from Interpol and “after the exchange of intelligence information”.