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Libya hijack: Malta forces surround plane carrying 118 | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A stand-off is under way at Malta International Airport where a Libyan jet carrying 118 people landed after being hijacked on a domestic route. | |
The Airbus A320 was flying inside Libya for Afriqiyah Airways when it was diverted. | |
At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports. | |
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that his country's security forces were standing by. | |
It is unclear what the demands are being made by the hijacker. Some media say there is more than one hijacker. | |
The mayor of Sebha in Libya, Colonel Hamed Al-Khayali, told the BBC there were 111 passengers on board the flight plus seven crew members. | |
Mr Muscat said on Twitter that the passengers list included 82 men, 28 women and one baby. | |
The deputy mayor for Lija in Malta, Madga Magri Naudi, told the BBC that paramedics and soldiers were standing by to see "what the next step is". | |
A special committee meeting was taking place to address the situation, she added. | |
In the meantime, Malta International Airport has been closed and all flights have been diverted. | |
The airport said emergency teams had been dispatched. | |
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