Tamil refugees on Chagos Islands fear deportation under Rwanda-type plan

The UK continues to claim sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, which it calls the British Indian Ocean Territory, despite a UN court ruling. Photograph: Pictures from History/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Tamil refugees seeking asylum from the British-claimed Chagos Islands face being forcibly removed to a third country under Rwanda-style plans drawn up by the UK government.

Government lawyers have told the asylum seekers that if they cannot be returned to Sri Lanka they will instead be removed to another undisclosed country.