47 Egyptian fishermen detained for violating Libyan territorial waters

Some 47 Egyptian fishermen have been arrested by Libyan authorities after violating the country’s territorial waters, local fisherman leader Abdo Nasser said.

Nasser told Turkey’s Anadolu Agency: “The Libyan authorities have detained the first fishing boat which was carrying 15 fishermen near the city of Misrata and another boat carrying 16 fishermen near the city of Benghazi and a third boat carrying 16 fishermen near the capital Tripoli after the three boats breached Libyan territorial waters in the Mediterranean.”

He said the fishermen were under investigation in Libya, adding that he had contacted the Egyptian foreign ministry to intervene and secure their release however he had had no response.

It was not possible to obtain an immediate comment from the Libyan authorities.