Berlin, 7 July 2026 – On 3 July, the Sea-Watch 5 departed for a rescue mission in the central Mediterranean for the first time since it was fired upon in May. At the same time, Sea-Watch filed an urgent application with the Berlin Administrative Court seeking to oblige the German government to take effective measures…
Saturday, 16 May – Italy has opened a criminal investigation against the captain of the Sea-Watch 5 with the accusation of “aiding and abetting unauthorized immigration”. The Sea-Watch 5 had entered the port of Brindisi on Friday morning at around 11 a.m. with 166 rescued people on board. The investigation represents an absurd escalation: Days…
13 May – In response to the attack on the Sea-Watch 5 on Monday, 11 May 2026, the European Commission stated at its press conference on Wednesday, 12 May 2026, that EU cooperation with Libyan actors “prevented further violence.” Sea-Watch condemns this portrayal as a grotesque distortion of reality. Without the political, financial, and operational…
On 11 May 2026, an armed patrol boat operated by the so-called Libyan coastguard opened fire on the civilian rescue vessel Sea-Watch 5 in international waters and threatened to board the ship and abduct those on board to Libya. The attack took place approximately 55 nautical miles north of Tripoli, in international waters. Shortly beforehand,…
A patrol boat operated by the so-called Libyan coast guard fired live ammunition at the rescue ship Sea-Watch 5 and is attempting to seize the vessel, its 30 crew members, and 90 rescued people on board to Libya. The attack is ongoing and began shortly after the Sea-Watch 5 crew had rescued 90 people in…
