"A humanitarian group has said that Libya's coast guard fired upon its vessel as it searched for a refugee and migrant boat in distress in the Mediterranean Sea. On Monday, the nonprofit SOS Mediterranee said the confrontation occurred a day earlier, about 40 nautical miles (74km) north of the Libyan coast, and released details and images of the incident. No casualties have been reported, although the group said the vessel sustained significant damage."
"The attack appeared to be one of the most violent involving a European rescue ship and the Libyan coast guard, which receives training, equipment and funding from the European Union. The patrol boat used in the attack was a 2023 gift from Italy to the Libyan coast guard as part of the EU's support for a border management programme, SOS Mediterranee said."
"While searching for a third boat in distress, the Ocean Viking was approached by a Libyan patrol vessel in international waters, Angelo Selim, the search-and-rescue coordinator on board, told The Associated Press. When they were very close, he said, they started shooting for 15 to 20 minutes. In the beginning, I didn't understand the noise of the shots. But when the first windows exploded on my head, we all got on the floor, Selim recalled."
SOS Mediterranee charters the Norwegian-flagged Ocean Viking with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The Ocean Viking had rescued 87 people from two boats, including many from Sudan, and was en route to Italy. While searching for a third boat in distress about 40 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast, a Libyan patrol vessel approached the Ocean Viking in international waters and opened fire for 15 to 20 minutes. The vessel sustained significant damage but there were no casualties. The patrol boat used in the attack was supplied by Italy in 2023 as part of EU border-management support. Rescued people and non-essential crew sheltered in a safety room.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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