A German humanitarian organisation has accused the Libyan coast guard of opening fire near one of its rescue vessels while it was carrying out a migrant rescue mission in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea, according to a report published by French newspaper Le Monde.
The report said a Libyan patrol boat fired shots close to the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 while it was carrying around 90 migrants who had attempted to cross the Mediterranean to Europe earlier this week.
The vessel, operated by German NGO Sea-Watch, was reportedly threatened with seizure in an attempt to force the crew and rescued migrants, including Bangladeshi and Egyptian nationals, back to Libya.
Mission captain Eleora Hensler said the vessel was heading towards Brindisi when the crew suddenly heard gunfire approximately 20 metres from the ship.
She said the shooting began with a single shot before escalating into what she described as “a barrage of automatic weapons fire” shortly after 11am local time.
According to Hensler, Libyan forces contacted the vessel by radio ordering the crew to stop the engine and head towards Tripoli, warning that they would face prosecution.
The captain added that the crew coordinated with German authorities during the incident while Italian authorities were also informed. She said the Libyan boats later withdrew after threatening to board the vessel, which remained outside Libyan territorial waters.
Italian journalist Sergio Scandura reported that one of the patrol boats involved was Italian-made and had previously been supplied by Italy and the European Union to western Libyan coastal security authorities.
Le Monde said the incident reflects growing concerns over the expanding capabilities and operations of Libyan coast guard forces, which have faced repeated criticism from humanitarian organisations over migrant interceptions and alleged abuses.
The newspaper also recalled similar incidents involving NGO rescue ships in the Mediterranean during recent months.