Malta takes control of tanker ship hijacked by migrants

Malta’s armed forces have recaptured a tanker which had been hijacked by migrants off the coast of Libya on Wednesday.

It was gathered that over 100 migrants who had been rescued by the ship, seized it after being told they would return to Libya.

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In a statement, the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) said the ship’s captain was not in control of the vessel after he and his crew were issued threats by a number of migrants to proceed to Malta.

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s interior minister, had earlier called the migrants pirates, saying they would not be allowed to dock in Italy.

The tanker, Elhiblu 1, is now heading to a Maltese port with the crew and migrants, who will be handed over to police, sources revealed.

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