Die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt mit Terrorvorwurf gegen drei Flüchtlinge. Der Zwang, mit dem sie den Öltanker sechs Seemeilen vor Tripolis zur Umkehr und auf Kurs Richtung Europa brachten, wird möglicherweise als terroristischer Akt gewertet. Die drei jugendlichen Flüchtlinge stammen aus Guinea und der Elfenbeinküste und sind 15, 16 und 19 Jahre alt. An Bord des Öltankers „Elhiblu I“, der auf Anweisung eines EU-Marineflugzeugs 108 Boat-people in Seenot gerettet hatte und zurück in die libysche Hölle bringen sollte, hatte sich eine Gruppe von Flüchtlingen gebildet, die sich ins offene Meer zu stürzen drohte.
Die drei Jugendlichen zwangen den Öltanker zur Umkehr und zum Kurs auf Europa. Sie haben sich und 105 Mitflüchtlinge, unter ihnen viele Frauen und Kinder, vor Folter, Misshandlung und wohl vor furchtbaren Strafen gerettet. Die Drei sollten in Europa eine Würdigung statt eine antiterroristischen Strafverfolgung erfahren. Die Mannschaft des EU-Marineflugzeugs, die das rechtswidrige und äusserst unhumane Refoulement nach Libyen koordiniert hat, wird noch immer gesucht, ihre Auftraggeber in EU-Hauptquartieren ebenfalls.
Watch: Three teens charged with terrorist activity in ship hijacking case. Accused as young as 15 denied bail
Saturday, March 30, 2019, 10:15
The teens were charged on Saturday morning.
Three people have been charged with terrorist activity after taking over a commercial vessel earlier this week, in a case which made headlines across the world.
The accused, teenagers aged 15, 16 and 19, appeared in court on Saturday morning to face charges connected to the seizure of the El Hiblu 1.
All were accused of having seized control of the ship through the use or threat of force and intimidation. They pleaded not guilty to the charge and requested bail.
Under Malta’s criminal code, unlawfully seizing control of ship is considered a „terrorist activity.“ If found guilty, they face between seven and 30 years behind bars.
Magistrate Donatella Frendo Dimech denied the bail request, noting that civilian witnesses had yet to testify and that the accused had no ties or means of paying a bail bond.
She ordered that the two minor suspects be entrusted to state care and everything done to ensure their safety and well-being. The court ordered a publication ban on the names of the minors who stand accused of the crime.
The 15- and 19-year-old suspects are from Guinea, with the 16-year-old a national of Ivory Coast.
Omar Zammit and Christa Armeni prosecuted. Cedric Mifsud, Gianluca Cappitta and Neil Falzon served as counsel for the defence.
During the hearing, Dr Falzon protested that the minors he was defending had been brought to court through the building’s main entrance – in full view of the public – and not from its rear entrance as was customary for minor suspects. […]
Times of Malta reported on Friday that a group of the migrants threatened to jump overboard if they were taken back to Libya. […]