The tanker was taking migrants to Libya when it was hijacked
VALLETTA, March 30 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The authorities in Malta have arrested five people as part of their investigation into the hijacking by migrants of a ship which rescued them in the Mediterranean.
In the early hours of Thursday, Malta’s security forces carried out an operation at sea to take control of the ship, which has now been brought into the Maltese capital, Valletta.
The migrant journey across the Mediterranean is already one of the most dangerous in the world.
Now it’s just got more complicated for both the migrants and their rescuers.
On Wednesday, off the coast of Libya, the Elhiblu1 merchant ship picked up more than 100 unarmed migrants – and began to take them back to the North African country.
A number of the migrants then took over the boat and set sail instead for Malta – the nearest European port.
Maltese special forces boarded the boat before it could reach the island.
They docked in the capital Valletta and arrested a small number of those on board.
The rest – including women and children were taken to reception centres.
Advocates for the rescued migrants will insist that they be allowed to stay in Europe.
But anti-migration campaigners will warn that this may only encourage further hijackings in the future. — NNN-AGENCIES