EU Commission labels alleged Libyan attack on NGO ship 'worrying development'

The European Commission is “establishing the facts” and talking to all sides about an alleged shooting by the Libyan coast guard at crew and survivors of the humanitarian NGO boat Ocean Viking, which occurred on Sunday in international waters.

“We have seen the press reports, we have reached out to the relevant Libyan authorities regarding this reported incident to clarify the facts. It is for the relevant Libyan authorities to now urgently shed light on what happened,” European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert told journalists on Tuesday. 

“It is obviously a worrying development that does not leave us indifferent. We are establishing the facts on that basis and will assess the situation and consider any possible action,” spokesperson Paula Pinho added.

The attack was conducted from a Corrubia-Class patrol vessel made in Italy and funded by the EU, according to the NGO, which previously came under attack from a similar patrol vessel in July 2023. 

Two Corrubia-class patrol vessels were donated with EU funds to the Libyan coast guard during a ceremony held at the end of June 2023 in the southern Italian city of Messina. The donation was part of the EU–Libya cooperation framework on migration management.

However, documented attacks towards humanitarian and fishing vessels by the Libyan coast guard have aggravated cooperation between Brussels and the north African country.

For example, on 7 July 2023, one of the two patrol vessels donated in Messina were used by the Libyans to fire at the Ocean Viking while it was conducting a rescue in international waters.

On Tuesday, journalists asked whether after the facts of 2023, the European Commission took any action as a consequence of the shooting. However, the European Commission was unable to answer during the daily press conference.

“We have to come back to this. I'm not aware of this incident which happened a couple of years back, I'm afraid,” Lammert said. 

“All these search and rescue operations need to operate with the required diligence and in full respect of international law and international maritime law,” he added.

Since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been in a state of civil war, with rival governments and different areas controlled by thousands of local militias.

In the meantime, the country has become a transit hub for migrants coming from Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia.

Militias involved in trafficking and smuggling have been documented committing abuses and torture against migrants over the years.

Despite these facts, the EU continues to cooperate with Libyan authorities to halt migrants from reaching European coasts.

Incident took place in international waters

Sunday's incident took place roughly 40 nautical miles off the northern Libyan coast. The Ocean Viking was approached by a patrol vessel operated by the Libyan coast guard, which asked the private vessel to leave the area, the NGO said.

The Libyan coastguard would have no authority to compel the NGO to move from international waters. The NGO claims that due to the threat and the track record of dangerous behaviour of the coast guard, it agreed to leave the area.

It then claims that while it was turning the engine to leave, two men started shooting at the Ocean Viking at head height for roughly 20 minutes.

No crew members and survivors were killed or wounded, but the NGO boat was heavily damaged. 

“The attack caused bullet holes at head height, the destruction of multiple antennas, and four broken windows on the bridge, and several bullets struck and damaged the three rescue boats, along with other rescue equipment,” the NGO stated in a press release. 

After the incident, the Ocean Viking issued a distress call, without receiving any assistance from nearby vessels, the NGO said.

Under international law, any boat in the area of another vessel in distress asking for assistance must respond and provide help.

Libya's authorities has been approached for comment.