More than 100 migrants hijacked a merchant vessel that helped them to rescue off Libya’s coast.
The migrants are learned ordering crew members to head towards Malta which Malta military said the Elhiblu vessel would not be allowed into its waters.
It is learned the migrants acted after they were told would be taken back to Libya.
Meanwhile, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini described the migrants as pirates and earlier European Union announce3d to be suspending navy patrols, Operation Sophia, in the Mediterranean.
Salvini’s Facebook page read, “They are not shipwrecked but pirates, they will only see Italy through a telescope.”
According to EU the Operation Sophia was suspended last year in September after a request from Italy.
The present location of the vessel is not clear and no public comments have come across from Libyan coastguard. Maltese armed forces spokesperson confirmed attempts are being made to contact the cargo captain.
As of now the Maltese officials have not been able to successfully contact the cargo captain.
