SOS Mediterranée says patrol vessel used by Libyan Coast Guard in attack had been donated by Italy in 2023.
Migrant rescuers and humanitarian groups in Italy have condemned an attack by the Libyan Coast Guard on a search and rescue ship in the Mediterranean Sea.
The non-profit SOS Mediterranée said the MV Ocean Viking vessel was targeted while carrying 87 rescued migrants to safety on Sunday afternoon.
In a statement, the SOS Mediterranée said the incident occurred in international waters, about 40 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast, as the Ocean Viking was searching for a migrant boat in distress.
The rescue vessel had been authorised by the Italian Coordination Centre to search for an additional boat in distress while en route to its assigned disembarkation port.
The NGO said it was approached by a Libyan patrol vessel which “unlawfully demanded that we leave the area and head north”.
The Ocean Viking responded to say that it was leaving the area, SOS Mediterranée said, “however, without any warning or ultimatum, two men aboard the patrol vessel opened fire on our humanitarian ship, unleashing at least 20 relentless minutes of assault gunfire directly at us.”
Le immagini dalla nave Ocean Viking.
L’aggressione. Dozzine i proiettili rinvenuti a bordo, sparati dalla c.d. guardia costiera libica. Oblò forati ad altezza uomo, interni, antenne, radaristica, RHIB di soccorso, raft di salvataggio: aggressione e danni senza precedenti. https://t.co/pIAU4qtO65 pic.twitter.com/Vqv3o4FtCJ— Sergio Scandura (@scandura) August 25, 2025
“It is unacceptable that operators who intervened to save 87 lives were attacked by gunfire following a rescue” – Rosario Valastro, president of the Italian Red Cross – “Our deepest sympathy goes to the crew and the rescued migrants who, in addition to carrying out the necessary activities to address the shipwreck, had to deal with this sad episode which, we hope, will never happen again.”
No one was physically injured in the incident, however the vessel sustained significant damage, including broken windows on the bridge and bullet holes in rescue equipment.
Following the attack, the ship set sail for Sicily, to the port of Augusta near Siracusa, where the 87 rescued migrants disembarked on Monday night.
SOS Mediterranée stated that the patrol boat used in the attack was a gift from Italy to the Libyan Coast Guard in 2023, as part of a European Union border management programme.
Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government has been actively working with Libya to stem migration flows, signing deals aimed at curbing irregular departures and strengthening border control.
Yesterday, our teams and survivors on the Ocean Viking were deliberately shot at by Libyan Coast Guard, on a vessel gifted by Italy.
We demand a full investigation into these horrifying events and an immediate end to all European collaboration with Libya.https://t.co/Be1oikdwYj— SOS MEDITERRANEE (@SOSMedIntl) August 25, 2025
Valeria Taurino, general director of SOS Mediterranée Italy, called for “a thorough investigation” into the incident and for “those responsible for these life-threatening acts to be brought to justice”.
“We also demand an immediate end to all European cooperation with Libya” – Taurino said – “An entity that makes illegal claims in international waters, deliberately obstructs rescue operations for people in mortal danger, and targets unarmed humanitarian workers and rescued people cannot be considered a competent authority.”
Taurino also called for an “end to the criminalisation of rescue operations, an attitude that only creates fertile ground for these incredibly violent attacks.”
Frontex, the EU’s border protection agency, described the incident as “deeply concerning” and has urged authorities to carry out a swift and thorough investigation.
In a post on X, prominent left-wing politician Laura Boldrini called on the Italian government to “firmly condemn what happened, which certainly cannot be dismissed as an accident. And it must demand an independent and authoritative investigation to identify those responsible.”
