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SOS Méditerranée Says Libyan Coast Guard Fired on ‘Ocean Viking’ in International Waters

The episode renews scrutiny of EU-backed Libyan patrols, prompting calls for a formal investigation.

Ein Blick auf die durchlöcherten Fenster der "Ocean Viking", einem von der gemeinnützigen Organisation SOS Mediterranee gecharterten Such- und Rettungsschiff, das nach Angaben der Organisation von der libyschen Küstenwache beschossen wurde.
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Overview

  • SOS Méditerranée reports roughly 20 minutes of gunfire about 40 nautical miles north of Libya, describing a targeted attack that left the rescue ship damaged but caused no injuries.
  • According to the NGO, the crew had Italian authorization to search for another distress case when a Libyan patrol ordered them to withdraw and then opened fire; a NATO alert was relayed to an Italian Navy unit that did not answer.
  • The organization says the ship sustained bullet holes at head height, shattered bridge windows, destroyed antennas, and damaged fast rescue boats while 87 rescued people were on board.
  • A Libyan Coast Guard spokesman acknowledges an encounter but claims only warning shots were fired and accuses NGOs of encouraging smugglers.
  • The vessel set course for Syracuse to disembark the 87 people and undergo repairs, as SOS Méditerranée urges criminal accountability and notes the Libyan patrol boat was reportedly supplied by Italy in 2023 under an EU program.