The Washington Post | 15.08.2017

A Spanish aid group dedicated to saving migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea says that Libyan coast guard boats have threatened their crews twice in recent days.

Laura Lanuza, spokeswoman for Proactiva Open Arms, tells The Associated Press that a Libyan patrol boat intercepted one of the NGO’s boats in international waters on Tuesday, ordering it by radio to set course for Libya’s capital of Tripoli.

The NGO’s boat Gulfo Azzurro followed the patrol for an hour and 40 minutes before the patrol ordered them to “head north and never come back,” according to Lanuza.

Lanuza said that on Aug. 7 the NGO’s other boat, Open Arms, was also intercepted by a Libyan patrol, which fired warning shots in the air and ordered them to leave.

Proactiva Open Arms claims to have rescued 25,000 migrants since starting operations in June 2016.