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's coastguard fired shots in the direction of a crowded migrant boat to stop it reaching Europe, a non-profit sea rescue group said on Thursday.

Members of the German organisation filmed the incident on Wednesday from recognisance aircraft.

Yesterday witnessed a brutal attack by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard deep in the Maltese SAR zone. Our video shows: Shots have been fired in the direction of the boat, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard tried to ram the boat several times and threw objects at people.

— Sea-Watch International (@seawatch_intl)

“Those who shoot at refugees and try to capsize their boats are not there to save them," Felix Weiss, head of operations, said in a statement released with the video.

"The must immediately end co-operation with the so-called Libyan Coast Guard."

In the footage, the Libyan coastguard can be seen approaching at high speed a blue wooden boat with at least two dozen people on board.

Men in uniform on the Libyan vessel fired shots at least twice, with bullets hitting water close to the migrant boat. The incident took place in Maltese waters.

Sea-Watch identified the coastguard vessel as the Ras Jadir, one of four donated by Italy to Libya in May 2017.

"Europe's partners are accepting the death of people on the move," the organisation said in a Tweet. "Shootings have been reported many times during violent push-backs and interceptions."

As events were unfolding, the aid group contacted the Libyan authorities by radio and urged them to stop shooting. The Libyan coastguard said they were trying to rescue the migrants.

The Sea-Watch aircraft was obliged to turn around while the confrontation was still ongoing as it was short on fuel. The organisation later received confirmation that the boat had arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa on Thursday morning.

Maltese and Italian authorities have not issued comments on the incident.

Since 2017, the European Union has provided support to the Libyan coast guard and navy for border management purposes. Formally, the support is given to prevent deaths in the Mediterranean and track down smuggling networks.

At least 723 people have died or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean this year.

Almost 15,000 migrants have been intercepted and returned to Libya from the start of the year, a record number. With EU support, the Libyan coastguard has increased interceptions of migrant boats.

The UN and other rights organisations have condemned their return to the war-torn country, where many are held in detention centres where they are at risk of abuse and torture.