Mediterranea Saving Humans reported that on April 4, their vessel Mare Jonio came under attack by a Libyan coast guard patrol boat while rescuing individuals from a distressed boat in international waters in the Mediterranean Sea.

In a statement issued later that day, the NGO described the incident as a violent intervention. "Libyan militiamen shot into the water and air, creating panic and leading to several people falling into the water," Mediterranea Saving Humans said.

The NGO urgently appealed to the Italian government to stop the "violent, dangerous, and criminal behavior of the so-called Libyan Coast Guard."

Also read: Libyan coast guard accused of threatening crew of rescue ship in Mediterranean

Migrants 'whipped on Libyan patrol boat', says NGO

According to Denny Castiglione, mission chief of Mediterranea Saving Humans, migrants were also whipped on the Libyan patrol boat.

In a video posted on the X social media platform, he recounted the harrowing encounter, highlighting the aggressive behavior of the Libyan Coast Guard.

"While we were handing out life vests, a patrol boat of the so-called Libyan Coast Guard arrived in a threatening manner and at high speed. On its arrival, many people became agitated and jumped into the sea. Others, from a previous rescue operation, were whipped on the bow of the patrol boat and others, out of terror, jumped into the water or were thrown into it by the Libyan Coast Guard."

"While we were rescuing the people in the water, " Castiglione continued, "the patrol boat began to shoot, first into the air and then at our rescue dinghies. They came very close to hitting the people we were rescuing multiple times. We rescued 58 people. We do not yet have any idea whether some are still missing. The operation was very complicated and put even more in jeopardy by this wicked intervention by the Libyan Coast Guard."

Also read: Italy: More than 2,000 migrants rescued and disembarked since Thursday

MEP Bartolo calls the incident 'very serious'

Pietro Bartolo, MEP representing Italy's Democratic Party (PD), commented that the reported incident was deeply troubling.

"The Italian government and the EU should intervene to restore the protection of the human rights of those requesting assistance at sea, before having to cry over more deaths -- not only among migrants but also among those engaged in rescue efforts at sea," he added.

He pledged to address the matter in the European Parliament, advocating for measures to prevent similar incidents and uphold humanitarian principles during maritime rescue operations.

Also read: Migrant doctor Bartolo says Europe responsible for migrants in Mediterranean