Right-wing media campaign accuses Sea-Watch of collusion with smugglers
German NGO Sea-Watch faces allegations of cooperating with Libyan smugglers, fueled by a leaked Frontex video published by Le Figaro and Il Giornale. The video shows the rescue ship Sea Watch 5 taking migrants from a boat with masked armed men on board. CDU politician Alexander Throm and AfD leader Alice Weidel criticized the NGO, suggesting it aids smuggling. Sea-Watch rejects the claims as a 'far-right smear campaign,' stating the video omits key context: the boat was overloaded, people were locked below deck, two were unconscious, and the masked men threatened to throw migrants into the water. The crew communicated transparently with Italian authorities and later reported that the Libyan coast guard fired live ammunition at the ship. The incident occurred on May 11, 2026, off the coast of Libya.
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