Overview

• The NGO reports that a Libyan motovedetta shot at the rescue ship for about 20 minutes on 24 August, striking crew areas, navigation gear and rescue boats, with no injuries reported.
• The vessel had rescued 87 people in two operations earlier that day roughly 40 nautical miles north of Libya, and the incident was documented with photos and video.
• Italy initially assigned Marina di Carrara for disembarkation but later authorized Ocean Viking to head to Siracusa after the reported attack.
• Journalists and monitoring groups say the patrol craft appears consistent with a boat supplied to Libyan units by Italy in 2023, reflecting long-running cooperation now under renewed scrutiny.
• In a separate action, authorities placed Mediterranea Saving Humans under administrative detention in Trapani with a possible fine after the group defied an order to dock in Genoa and disembarked 10 people locally, while PD leader Elly Schlein urged suspension of the Italy–Libya memorandum.