A European rescue ship, the Ocean Viking, operated by the NGO SOS Méditerranée and chartered together with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, was attacked by the Libyan Coast Guard while conducting rescue operations in the Mediterranean, approximately 40 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast.
The vessel was searching for a third migrant boat in distress after already rescuing 87 people, many from Sudan. Without warning, a Libyan patrol boat — delivered by Italy as part of a European border management program — approached the Ocean Viking in international waters and opened fire for about 15 to 20 minutes.
The gunfire shattered several windows, damaged antennas and rescue boats, and left bullet holes in the ship’s structure. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Search and rescue coordinator Angelo Selim recounted that the shots forced everyone to the ground as glass shattered above his head, and that he ordered migrants and nonessential crew to shelter in the security room while he and the captain remained on the bridge.
The NGO issued a mayday call and requested protection from an Italian Navy vessel nearby, but received no response. SOS Méditerranée condemned the attack as “unacceptable and deliberate,” denouncing that the Libyan Coast Guard repeatedly acts recklessly, violating international maritime law and endangering both migrants and humanitarian teams working to save lives at sea.
The European border control agency Frontex expressed its “deep concern” and called for an urgent investigation, while Italy refrained from making public comments on the incident. This episode adds to a series of incidents that reveal a pattern of aggression against humanitarian vessels in the region, even in international waters, raising alarm among human rights advocates and rescue organizations.
