The security threats to Search and Rescue (SAR) vessels operating off Libya appears to be getting worse as another vessel comes under live fire from a Libyan vessel, with Europe downplaying the incident.
On 11 May, the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 reportedly came under fire in international waters from a Libyan vessel belonging to the Libyan Coast Guard, which also tried to seize the boat, its 30 crew members, and 90 rescued people on board and bring them back to Libya. The crew of the Sea-Watch 5 sent out two Mayday calls in rapid succession, and informed the relevant Italian and German authorities. According to Sea-Watch, neither authority provided prompt assistance, and the EU naval mission EUNAVFOR MED IRINI also did not intervene. The NGO vessel was ultimately escorted toward Brindisi (Italy) by the Murzuq 662 – a Bigliani-class ship handed over by Italy to Libya in June 2023.
On 12 May, Sea Watch strongly criticised the EU for its reluctance to condemn the incident: ‘The EU has been working closely with actors in Libya for years who are accused of committing the most serious crimes against people on the move, equipping them and enabling their operations at sea.’
On 16 May, the day after Sea-Watch 5 entered Brindisi port, Italy opened a criminal investigation against the captain of the Sea-Watch 5 for ‘aiding and abetting unauthorised immigration.’ Sea Watch called the investigation ‘an absurd escalation’ that deliberately exploits criminal investigations ‘to target and delegitimise civilian search-and-rescue operations.’ The captain of Sea-Watch 5 added that the NGO ‘will not be intimidated’ by such actions.