Migrants have hijacked a cargo ship and turned it toward Italy after being picked up off the coast of Libya Wednesday.
The group of more than 100 migrants was rescued by the Turkish oil tanker El Hiblu 1 but seized control of the vessel after it became apparent that it was taking them back to Libya.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called the hijackers “pirates” and said that taking the ship was an act of “organized crime.” He said it appears the ship is attempting to head toward Malta.
“These are not migrants in distress, they are pirates, they will only see Italy through a telescope,” Salvini said, also describing the alleged hijacking as the “the first act of piracy on the high seas with migrants.”
It is not yet clear the condition of the crew, but both Italy and Malta have said that the ship would not be permitted to enter territorial waters.
