Sixty two distressed people taken back to Libya, locked up in prison

Sixty two people distressed in the Central Mediterranean have been   taken back to Libya and  locked up prison.

Alarm Phone provided the information on its X handle.

Alarmphone is an organisation that provides independent support for people crossing the Mediterranean Sea to the EU.

The information by Alamphone reads: “SOS:  in the Central Med – ca. 62 people in urgent distress! A relative alerted us to this group in distress in the search and rescue zone of #Malta, reporting that the rubber boat they are in is deflating. Authorities are informed and need to act quickly!”

After a while, Alarm Phone provided an update announcing that “the people called us again at 5:11CET. They are still at sea, but much further south, close to the Libyan coast. Their rubber boat is losing air and the group is asking for help, they need rescue immediately, without further delay!”

Alarm Phone subsequently disclosed that “we learnt that the people are back in Libya now where they were thrown into prison & their families asked to pay for their release. We hope they can escape these terrible conditions, conditions the EU turns a blind eye to in complete disregard for people’s right to claim asylum.”