By Libya Herald reporters.
Benghazi, 16 January 2016:
The Libyan navy says it has detained 14 suspected terrorists found on board a Panamanian-flagged . . .[restrict]vessel stopped and boarded within territorial waters off Ras Hilal.
The navy says that 12 Syrians and two Indians were arrested on the ship which they named as the Abella. However, no record of such a vessel exists on the Panamanian shipping register.
It is reported that the ship, which was stopped some nine kilometres off the coast, was carrying a cargo of wheat. It was searched but no weapons were found. The news agency LANA said the Abella was intercepted by a naval patrol vessel commanded by Captain Mohamed Hidayat.
The Greek owners have been asked to explain why the vessel was in Libyan waters. It appears that its manifest did not show that it was bound for a Libyan destination.
It is unclear this evening if the Abella is being held at sea or has been escorted to a government-controlled port. [/restrict]
