The Iuventa boat at the harbour in Lampedusa in early August. A German NGO whose migrant rescue boat was impounded by Italian authorities on suspicion of collusion with people traffickers said on Tuesday it had been the victim of a "despicable smear campaign". Humanitarian group Jugend Rettet went to court to demand the immediate release of its 33-metre boat the Iuventa, which was seized on August 2 on the island of Lampedusa. He said the Iuventa's position had been in line with instructions from the coastguard and that the boat supposedly delivered back to traffickers was only towed a short distance to get it away from the NGO's boat. The alleged traffickers seen talking to the Iuventa crew members were in fact armed criminals who frequently attempt to pick up outboard motors after or even during rescues.

Source: The Local September 19, 2017 16:30 UTC