by Crispian Balmer (Reuters) Captain Carola Rackete, 31, was freed from house arrest on Tuesday after a judge dismissed accusations she had endangered the lives of Italian servicemen by ignoring military orders and bringing a boatload of migrants to the port of Lampedusa. Salvini has repeatedly denounced Rackete, calling her a “pirate” and an “outlaw”, and promising to expel … [Read more...]
Hijacking of Oil Tanker Is a Turning Point in the Migrant Crisis
By Caroline Alexander (Bloomberg) -- Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called them “pirates.” But the women and children who disembarked from a cargo ship hijacked by migrants in European waters were simply desperate. They were among the 108 people escaping what human rights groups say is torture and sexual assault in Libya, a country left broken by a … [Read more...]
Maltese Soldiers Seize Back Tanker Hijacked by Migrants
By Chris Scicluna and Darrin Zammit Lupi VALLETTA, March 28 (Reuters) - A small tanker that was hijacked by migrants off Libya docked in Malta's port of Valletta on Thursday after Maltese special forces took control of the vessel, Reuters witnesses said. Cargo ship Elhiblu 1 had picked up 108 migrants stranded at sea on Wednesday, some of whom then hijacked the vessel when … [Read more...]
Migrants Hijack Merchant Ship Off Libya
ROME, March 27 (Reuters) - Migrants have hijacked a merchant ship which rescued them off the coast of Libya and it is now heading towards Malta, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and Maltese authorities said on Wednesday. The 108 migrants were picked up by the cargo ship Elhiblu 1 and hijacked the vessel when it became clear that it planned to take them back to … [Read more...]
Pope Appeals for Safe Ports for Migrant NGO Ships
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY, Jan 6 (Reuters) - Pope Francis urged European leaders on Sunday to stop bickering over the fate of 49 migrants stuck aboard two humanitarian rescue ships on the Mediterranean and let them land at a safe port of call. With his comments in an address to 60,000 people in St. Peter's Square for the feast of the Epiphany, Francis jumped into … [Read more...]