Libyan navy fires at oil-smuggling vessel

BY Libyan Express Oct 08, 2017 - 12:34

Libyan coastguard threatens Spanish NGO ships as tensions rise in Mediterranean (Photo: Internet)

The Libyan coastguard has opened fire on an oil tanker carrying contraband fuel, a spokesperson for the navy told AFP on Saturday.

“The ‘Goeast’, flying the Comoran flag, was spotted three days ago heading for Abu Kamash and took on fuel via a pipeline on Thursday night, two kilometres from the coast,” General Ayoub Qassem said.

Abu Kamash is the site of one of the oil-rich North African country’s largest petrochemical complexes, near the Tunisian border some 170km west of Tripoli.

On Friday, the coastguard tried contacting the ship’s crew. Receiving no response, it opened fire, hitting the vessel at least twice.

A video posted on Saturday on the coastguard’s Facebook page shows shots being firing at the tanker, which starts to list heavily and capsize.

Liquid is seen pouring from the ship into the water and a man on the coastguard ship can be heard saying it is diesel.

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