COMPLAINTS BY NGOS AGAINST LIBYAN COASTGUARD – They opened fire against immigrants

Non-Governmental Organisations claimed that 70 migrants jumped into Mediterranean waters to avoid the Libyan coastguard’s gunshots.

According to NGOs, coastguard officers opened fire on two boats loaded with migrants at a time when the organisations were having a rescue operation. The Libyan coastguard, on the other hand, dismissed the accusations and demanded evidence of them.

Eyewitnesses told Al Jazeera that while four NGOs, including SOS Mediterranee, MSF, Save the Children and German NGO Jugend Rettet, were trying to save refugees, a speedboat equipped with four machine guns reached the point.

According to the testimonies, the speedboat approached the ships of the immigrants at great speed, creating large waves that made it difficult for refugees to board on the plastic boats. “A little later a series of shots were heard. The shootings were heard very close to the immigrants’ boats, told Laura Garel, a communications officer of “SOS Mediterranee Aquarius”, to Al-Jazeera.

The crew can not say for sure whether they were victims or injured, but NGOs claim they were victims and injured and that two coastguard officers stole mobile phones and money from passengers.

The Libyan coastguard denied that the incident occurred, calling the accusations “absurd.”