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Open Arms migrant ship: Italy orders vessel's seizure | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An Italian prosecutor has ordered the seizure of the Open Arms migrant ship and the evacuation of the migrants on board on to the island of Lampedusa, Italian media report. | An Italian prosecutor has ordered the seizure of the Open Arms migrant ship and the evacuation of the migrants on board on to the island of Lampedusa, Italian media report. |
It is thought some 100 migrants were left on board the Spanish rescue ship. | It is thought some 100 migrants were left on board the Spanish rescue ship. |
Italy had refused to allow them to leave the ship for nearly three weeks, though dozens of children and the sick had been taken ashore. | Italy had refused to allow them to leave the ship for nearly three weeks, though dozens of children and the sick had been taken ashore. |
Earlier, about 10 migrants jumped off the ship, hoping to swim to the island. | |
The swimmers were picked up by the Italian Coastguard from Lampedusa. | The swimmers were picked up by the Italian Coastguard from Lampedusa. |
Agrigento Prosecutor Luigi Patronaggio ordered the vessel be preventatively seized after inspecting the boat on Tuesday afternoon "given the difficult situation on board", a judicial source quoted by the AFP news agency said. | Agrigento Prosecutor Luigi Patronaggio ordered the vessel be preventatively seized after inspecting the boat on Tuesday afternoon "given the difficult situation on board", a judicial source quoted by the AFP news agency said. |
The founder of the Open Arms charity which owns the ship welcomed the decision in a tweet: "After 19 days, we will disembark today in Lampedusa. | |
"The ship will be seized temporarily, but it is a cost that @openarms_fund assumes to ensure that people on board can be seen to. We consider it essential to prioritise [their] health and safety in this humanitarian emergency." | |
Prior to the prosecutor's decision, Spain had announced it was sending a vessel to Lampedusa to pick up those on board, but it would have taken three days to reach the island. | |
Far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has taken a hard line on migration, closing Lampedusa to migrant rescue ships. | |
"Being firm is the only way to stop Italy from becoming Europe's refugee camp again," he tweeted earlier. | |
These latest developments come as Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned earlier, following a blistering attack on Mr Salvini, a coalition partner.. | |
Mr Conte said Mr Salvini had been "irresponsible" in creating a new political crisis for Italy for "personal and party interests". |
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