Libya issued no warning prior to the attack, according to the second officer of a Turkish freighter that was shelled and then attacked twice by fighter planes off Libya’s city of Derna on May 10, Turkey’s Hurryiet Daily News reports.
The third officer on the Cook Islands-flagged bulk carrier Tuna-1 died in the attack, and several crewmen were injured, including the second officer.
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the attack, saying that the vessel was in the international waters when the attack occurred.
The 5,312 dwt Tuna-1 was en route from Spain carrying a load of plaster to the Port of Tobruk.
Libyan authorities said that the ship was attacked some 10 miles off the city of Derna, after it was warned not to approach. Libya’s internationally recognized military forces reportedly attacked the ship under suspicion that the vessel was carrying arms and supplies to Derna, which is controlled by ISIS.
Tuna-1 arrived in Turkey’s southwestern province of Muğla on May 12.
World Maritime News Staff