Armed vessels linked to the Libyan Coast Guard reportedly opened fire on the German humanitarian rescue ship Sea-Watch 5. On Monday after it rescued around 90 migrants from an overcrowded wooden boat in the central Mediterranean Sea. According to the NGO Sea-Watch, the attack happened about 27 miles off Libya’s coast inside the Libyan search-and-rescue zone. Crew members said the armed boats fired warning shots followed by bursts of live ammunition and ordered the rescue ship to stop.
NGO Sea-Watch view
The rescue ship carried roughly 30 crew members and the rescued migrants during the incident. Sea-Watch issued emergency distress calls to Italian and German authorities, saying people onboard feared for their lives. Italian coast guard officials later confirmed they had received reports of the shooting and described it as a “security incident.” The vessel was eventually escorted north toward the Italian port of Brindisi, which was designated as a safe harbor.
Similar Accidents
In 2025, the rescue ship Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Méditerranée, also reported being fired upon by Libyan coast guard vessels during a migrant rescue mission. Humanitarian groups say these attacks are becoming increasingly dangerous for both rescuers and migrants attempting the crossing from North Africa to Europe.
