NOS News•
The Italian navy has put an end to a suspected hijacking of a Turkish cargo ship off the coast of Naples. A group of stowaways would have tried to take control of the ship.
According to the Italian defense minister, the 22 crew members have been brought to safety. They had raised the alarm earlier in the day because stowaways, some with weapons, had been seen on board.
The crew then retreated to the engine room. Italian customs and patrol ships blocked the ship, after which the marines landed on the ship via helicopter.
It is being investigated which of the stowaways participated in the hijacking. It would concern a group of 15 immigrants from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Among them are two women. According to the minister, two or three of the stowaways were armed with sharp objects.
The ship, the Galata Seaways, was en route from Yalove in Turkey to the southern French port of Sète, not far from Montpellier. The stowaways have been transferred to a police station in Naples.
2023-06-10 02:04:59
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