This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38416112

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Libya Malta hijack: Man waves Gaddafi flag from plane Libya Malta hijack: Hijackers arrested
(35 minutes later)
A man has emerged from a hijacked Libyan jet waving a flag associated with the late former leader, Muammar Gaddafi, during a stand-off in Malta. The hijackers of a Libyan jet have been arrested following a stand-off at Malta International Airport.
The man appeared after most of the 118 people on board had been released from the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320. The domestic flight with 118 people on board was hijacked in the morning after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli.
The domestic flight was hijacked in the morning after taking off from Sabha, bound for the Libyan capital Tripoli. They surrendered to Maltese authorities after most of the people had been released from the Afriqiyah Airways Airbus A320.
It remains unclear exactly how many hijackers were involved.
However, it appears they may be supporters of the late former leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
A man was seen waving a green, Gaddafi-era flag from the top of the plane steps shortly before the incident ended.
Taher Siala, the foreign minister of Libya's internationally backed Government of National Accord, said the hijackers wanted to set up a pro-Gaddafi political party.
Airport security in Libya: Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent, Tunis
Airport security in Libya is as lax and chaotic as the country's' politics. Various armed groups who do not have any particular allegiance to any Libyan administration control them all.
Over the years there have been several incidents that passengers have become accustomed to, which often go unreported. This includes planes being delayed because rival armed groups drive up the runway, or even temporarily board them if they have a particular demand or a personal axe to grind.
The capital's main airport was burned down during the 2014 rival militia clashes to control it.
Libyans already have trouble flying out of their own country, and cannot travel direct to any European country. European airspace has been closed to all flights from Libya for over two years. The latest incident will undoubtedly dash any hopes that a change in that reality will take place any time soon.
One of the hijackers told a Libyan television station: "We took this measure to declare and promote our new party."
Initial information had suggested the hijackers were trying to claim political asylum in Malta, the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC.
The incident began after the plane took off from Sabha at 11:10 local time (08:10 GMT), landing in Malta two hours and 20 minutes later.
At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.At least one man claiming to have a hand grenade threatened to blow up the plane, according to local reports.
The flag-waving man is then understood to have gone back inside the passenger plane. Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the passenger list included 82 men, 28 women and one baby.
Initial information suggests the hijacker is trying to claim political asylum in Malta, the mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC.
However, a Libyan television station which says it interviewed a hijacker said he wanted to promote a new pro-Gaddafi party.
"We took this measure to declare and promote our new party," he was quoted as telling Libya's Channel, according to the broadcaster's Twitter account.
Col Khayali also said there was only one hijacker although some reports say there are two.
The plane took off from Sabha at 11:10 local time (08:10 GMT), landing in Malta two hours and 20 minutes later.
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that his country's security forces were standing by.
Mr Muscat said on Twitter that the passengers list included 82 men, 28 women and one baby.
Col Khayali said the plane had left Sabha's Tmenhant military airport at 11:05 local time for Tripoli.Col Khayali said the plane had left Sabha's Tmenhant military airport at 11:05 local time for Tripoli.
"It was hijacked and investigations are continuing to establish how any explosives or weapons made it on board," he said."It was hijacked and investigations are continuing to establish how any explosives or weapons made it on board," he said.
He added that security at Tmenhant was poor, with a distance of 5km (3.1 miles) travel between the airport building and planes.He added that security at Tmenhant was poor, with a distance of 5km (3.1 miles) travel between the airport building and planes.
"That is an open space and it is possible that along that route something was smuggled on board," he said."That is an open space and it is possible that along that route something was smuggled on board," he said.
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".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.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.In the meantime, Malta International Airport has been closed and all flights have been diverted.
What is airport security like in Libya?
by Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent, Tunis
Airport security in Libya is as lax and chaotic as the country's' politics.
Various armed groups who do not have any particular allegiance to any Libyan administration control them all.
Over the years there have been several incidents that passengers have become accustomed to, which often go unreported. This includes planes being delayed because rival armed groups drive up the runway, or even temporarily board them if they have a particular demand or a personal axe to grind.
The capital's main airport was burned down during the 2014 rival militia clashes to control it.
Libyans already have trouble flying out of their own country, and cannot travel direct to any European country. European airspace has been closed to all flights from Libya for over two years.
The latest incident will undoubtedly dash any hopes that a change in that reality will take place any time soon.
Are you in the affected area? Get in touch and email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in the affected area? Get in touch and email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.If you are available to talk to a BBC journalist, please include a telephone number.
Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text +44 7624 800 100.Email your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, upload them here, tweet them to @BBC_HaveYourSay or text +44 7624 800 100.
Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971.Or WhatsApp us on +44 7525 900971.
Read our terms and conditions.Read our terms and conditions.
Or comment here:Or comment here: