The Italian-flagged Mare Ionian ship of the Mediterranea project, which yesterday rescued 49 migrants in front of the Libyan coast, is at anchor a mile and a half from Lampedusa.
According to reports from NGO volunteers, some soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza are on board the ship and are carrying out an inspection of the on-board documentation.
The boat, which has not received authorization to disembark in a "safe harbor" in Italy, is surrounded by three patrol boats, two from the Guardia di Finanza and one from the Coast Guard.
Matteo Salvini in fact replied no to the request of the Ionian Sea ship to land the 49 nugrabtu that had arisen in a port. The inistro, speaking to Sky Tg24 reiterating his position, explained that “It is a ship of the social centers, Luca Casarini is speaking on behalf of this ship, go and look at his social background. On board there are other left and ultra-left exponents who in my opinion are committing the crime of aiding illegal immigration by collecting migrants in Libyan waters, while a Libyan patrol boat was intervening. They autonomously decided to head to Italy for evidently political reasons, without observing the instructions of the authorities and not caring about the halt of the Guardia di Finanza ". The migrants on board "can be treated, dressed, fed - he added - we can give them all kinds of comfort but in Italy with my permission they don't set foot".