Video: Libyan coastguard attacks migrants at sea
Shocking footage shows “coastguard” vessel firing towards migrant boat
A heartless and dangerous attack against migrants by the Libyan coastguard was caught on camera by the charity Sea-Watch on Wednesday.
The disturbing footage shows a coastguard launch firing towards a much smaller migrant boat and hounding it in what looks like an attempt to ram the overloaded vessel. The crew also appeared to throw sticks at the migrants.
Sea-Watch shot the footage from the air and repeatedly hailed the launch (identified as the Italian-supplied Ras Jadir) in an effort to stop the dangerous interception.
The incident occurred in the Maltese SAR coordination zone and is the latest in a string of similar incidents.
The Ras Jadir was instrumental in the death of an estimated 50 people adrift in a life raft in 2017 and actively hampered efforts by Sea-Watch RHIB teams to rescue the drowning migrants.
Yesterday #Seabird witnessed a brutal attack by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard deep in the Maltese SAR zone. Our video shows: Shots have been fired in the direction of the boat, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard tried to ram the boat several times and threw objects at people. pic.twitter.com/0C2YSmcPoO
