CRISIS has broken out in the Mediterranean as over 100 migrants seized the merchant ship that rescued them to avoid going back to Libya, according to reports. Nationalist Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini branded the migrants as “pirates” after it was announced they were heading towards Malta. He said: “These are not migrants in distress, […]
CRISIS has broken out in the Mediterranean as over 100 migrants seized the merchant ship that rescued them to avoid going back to Libya, according to reports.
Nationalist Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini branded the migrants as “pirates” after it was announced they were heading towards Malta.
He said: “These are not migrants in distress, they are pirates, they will only see Italy through a telescope.
“This is clearly a case of organised crime. Our ports remain closed.”
Italy has cracked down on illegal immigration, including closing the ports to charity ships, since he took office in June last year.
The vessel, the Elhiblu 1, had originally rescued migrants who were on a sinking ship after they had attempted to migrate via Libya.
The rescue boat was to then return the asylum seekers back to the country.
It was then that the migrants took control of the tanker to stop them from returning to the country.
There are reports say that the military has been deployed.
The ship is set to be approaching Maltese waters in two hours according to officials.
More to follow…
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