A group of armed men onboard an unidentified speedboat approached and attacked the rescue vessel Bourbon Argos on August 17, 2016, while it was conducting search and rescue operations, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
The attack occurred 24 nautical miles north of the Libyan coast.
Armed men on board the speedboat fired shots toward the Bourbon Argos from a distance of 400 to 500 metres and then boarded the vessel.
There were no rescued people onboard that day, and neither the crew members nor the MSF staff were harmed.
“Although we don’t know the identity of the attackers or their motivation, our initial assessment of the facts shows that they were professional and well-trained,” said Stefano Argenziano, MSF operations coordinator.
The armed men boarded the Bourbon Argos and moved around, leaving after approximately 50 minutes, without stealing or removing anything.
During that time all team members were in the protected area aboard the vessel.
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