Two hijackers who seized control of an Afriqiyah Airways flight in Libya have released all passengers and surrendered to authorities. Described as being from the pro-Gaddafi group Al Fatah Al Gadida, the suspects had diverted the Airbus 320 to Malta.
23 December 2016
Although earlier reports indicated the hijackers were armed with a hand grenade and pistols, PM Muscat has said initial forensic exams have shown the weapons were replicas.
Malta’s President Marie-Louise Coleiro tweeted that she was “so pleased that all's well that ends well re #Afriqiyah hijack.”
“Heartfelt thanks to #Malta's authorities & all security & emergency services,” she added.
It was revealed at the press conference that no demands were made during negotiations with the hijackers, who Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat described as being “probably of Libyan nationality.”
The hijackers had asked for peace negotiators to board the plane during the hijacking but this was denied, Muscat said.
He confirmed the hijackers handed over a hand grenade and a pistol as part of their surrender, while a follow-up search by the armed forces resulted in the discovery of a second pistol.
Armed forces have entered the plane for a final sweep. PM of Malta Joseph Muscat has announced he will speak at a press conference shortly.
The hijackers have now left the plane along with the crew members, Prime Minister Muscat confirmed. One hijacker was seen being led away in handcuffs by security forces.
Muscat added that the hijackers have “surrendered.”
In an interview with Libyan TV, one of the hijackers said: “We took this measure to declare and promote our new party.”
You can watch a live feed of the unfolding situation in Malta via the Ruptly feed below.
The mayor of Sabha, Colonel Hamed al-Khayali, told the BBC that a hijacker is seeking political asylum in Malta, though all demands are not yet fully known.
One of the hijackers told Libyan media he is the leader of a ‘pro-Gaddafi’ party, Reuters reports.
Both hijackers are demanding the creation of a ‘pro-Gaddafi’ party, Al-Saghir, who spoke to a passenger, told Reuters.
One of the suspected hijackers was seen emerging from the aircraft waving a green flag, believed to be synonymous with the Gaddafi family.
A number of crew members have now been released from the aircraft, however, the hijackers along with some airline staff are still on board, according to Muscat.
According to Reuters, the two hijackers are believed to be in their mid-20s, from the Tebu ethnic group, which is present in southern Libya, according to Libyan MP Hadi al-Saghir, who spoke to his colleague and passenger on the plane, Abdusalem Mrabit.
According to Arabic news site Alwasat, both hijackers have been named as Mousa Shaha and Ahmed Ali.
The prime minister has confirmed that another 44 passengers have been released, bringing the total freed to 109 so far.
RT’s latest on hijacked Libyan plane that landed in Malta
A passenger who spoke to Libyan MP Hadi al-Saghir has confirmed that the hijackers have grenades, but it still remains unclear what their demands are, Reuters reports.
According to Prime Minister Muscat, 65 passengers have been freed as the rescue operation continues.
Following the release of women and an infant, male passengers now appear to be exiting the aircraft.
An Afriqiyah Airways official told AP that the two hijackers had expressed a willingness to release the passengers, but will keep the pilot on board.
The official also told Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV that Libyan lawmaker Abdel-Salam al-Marabet was among the list of passengers. AP reported that it remains unclear whether he actually boarded the flight.
Coaches have been seen approaching the aircraft to take passengers to safety.
According to Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, 25 passengers have now been released.
Mayor Hamed al-Khayali from the Libyan town of Sebha where the plane was hijacked told the BBC that security at the airport “is not good.”
“It was hijacked and investigations are continuing to establish how any explosives or weapons made it on board,” al-Khayali said, adding that “the security at this airport is no good. It’s a military airport.”
Passengers are seen exiting the plane as security forces continue to monitor the situation.
Women and children being held hostage by the hijackers will soon be let go, a journalist for iNews Malta tweeted.
Footage uploaded to Twitter appears to show emergency services heading in the direction of the airport with sirens blaring.
The airport’s main runway appears to have reopened, while security services deal with the hijacked plane on a secondary runway.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has confirmed that he spoke to his Libyan counterpart Fayez al-Sarraj about the situation.
Malta-based journalist Saviour Balzan has tweeted that the hijackers have agreed to let the passengers go and to give up their weapons.