The Libyan Coast Guard shot against a humanitarian boat conducting investigations of immigrants at risk in the Mediterranean, NGO SOS Mediterranee said Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday and appears to be one of the most violent recorded between a European rescue ship and the Libyan Coast Guard, which receives training, equipment and funding by the European Union, the Associated Press reports.

SOS Mediterranee said the controversy had about 40 nautical miles north of the coast of Libya and released details and photos of the episode. There were no casualties, but the ship suffered significant damage.

The organization charters the Norwegian flag Ocean Viking in collaboration with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent.

A Libyan Coast Guard spokesman did not respond to a commentary request.

SOS Mediterranee emphasized that the patrol boat used by the Libyan Coast Guard was Italy’s gift to Libya in 2023 as part of the European Union for Border Management.

Before accepting the attack, Ocean Viking had rescued 87 people from two boats of immigrants, including many coming from the Sudan war.

As Ocean Viking was looking for a third boat of immigrants at risk, it was approached in international waters from Libyan Coast Guard patrol, Angelo Selim, a search and rescue coordinator on board, told the Associated Press. “When they came very close, they started shooting for 15 to 20 minutes,” he said.

“At first I didn’t understand the sound of the shots, but when the first glazing over my head broke, we all fell to the floor,” Selim described, adding that some shots seemed to come from automatic weapons.

He said that he ordered the immigrants and crew members who were not necessary for the operation of the ship to be locked in the security room, while he and the captain remained on the bridge.

Eventually, as Angelo Selim said, the shots stopped, but the threats continued. He remembered the Libyan Coast Guard to warn via radio in Arabic: “If you do not leave the area, we will come to kill you all.”

In videos and photos of the incident released by SOS Mediterranee, two men are distinguished to mark the ship with weapons while many shots are heard. There are also broken glazing and damaged equipment.

“This incident was not only outrageous and unacceptable,” SOS Mediterranee said in a statement. “It is anything but isolated: the Libyan Coast Guard has a long history of dangerous behavior that endangers human lives at sea, grossly violates human rights and shows complete contempt for international maritime law.”

SOS Mediterranee said she was emitting a mayday after the fire and requested protection from an Italian warship nearby, but without receiving a response.

Frontex, the European Border Guard Service that often detects boats at risk and notifying the coordinates to the competent authorities, described the incident as “particularly worrying” and called on “the competent authorities to investigate the facts immediately and in depth”.

Frontex added that “it remains fully committed to rescuing life at sea and always acts in accordance with International Maritime Law. No rescuer should ever be jeopardized when performing a rescue task. “

Ocean Viking headed Monday to Italy with the 87 immigrants he had rescued before the attack. The organization had no younger for the immigrants he was looking for when he was on fire.

A spokesman for the Italian interior ministry refused to comment on the incident, while the Italian Coast Guard did not respond to a request.

“We demand the complete investigation of the events of yesterday’s afternoon and the referral of those who have put lives on the afternoon of these attacks,” said SOS Mediterranee Business Director Sozik Dipioui.