An attack on Friday by the Libyan coastguard on a boat carrying around 150 refugees has caused "many" deaths, according to the non-profit maritime rescue organization Sea-Watch.
The Germany-based group had been attempting to deliver first-aid supplies to the migrants' boat when a speedboat bearing Libyan coastguard markings arrived on the scene. Its crew proceeded to board the migrants' boat and hit those onboard with sticks, a statement on the organization's Facebook page alleges.
"The violent intervention of the Libyan coastguard caused a situation of mass panic on board the [migrants'] rubber boat... One tube of the rubber boat collapsed, causing the majority of the 150 people to slip into the water," the statement said in English.
"Our crew immediately tried to rescue as many as possible but a binary [double-digit] number of people could not be saved. Four bodies were recovered... Another four unconscious people are currently receiving medical treatment. 120 refugees could be rescued aboard our vessel."
The use of so-called "push-backs" by the Libyan coastguard to prevent refugees from reaching Europe is well known, but they are not always associated with physical violence.
