A small Libyan ship has been escorted to Malta after having been allegedly involved in an unusual case of hijacking last night.

The crew of the refrigeration ship Benghazi II had claimed in a radio message that the ship was being taken over by 16 passengers, of various nationalities, who were on board. The ship was just outside Maltese territorial waters at the time.

The AFM said it deployed the Maritime Squadron's Rapid Deployment Team on board a patrol boat. After approaching the 20-metre vessel the on-scene commander successfully negotiated the disembarkation of the passengers.

The AFM unit boarded and secured the vessel and released the captain and the two members of his crew from the engine room.

The ship was escorted to Malta by two AFM patrol craft and all passengers and crew were handed over to the police for questioning.

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