Libya’s coast guard shoots at a vessel seeking to rescue migrants in distress, group says

A view of bullet-drilled windows of the MV Ocean Viking, search and rescue vessel chartered by non profit group nonprofit SOS Mediterranee, which, according to the organisation, was fired on by the Libyan Coast Guard, approximately 40 Nautical Miles north of the Libyan coast, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. The attack, which took place the day before, appeared to be one of the most violent involving a European rescue ship and the Libyan coast guard, which receives training, equipment and funding from the European Union. Frontex, the European Union’s border protection agency that often spots boats in distress and shares coordinates with the competent maritime authorities, called the incident “deeply concerning” and urged “the proper authorities to investigate the events swiftly and thoroughly.”