The Maltese army has taken back control of a tanker hijacked by migrants off Libya on Wednesday.
The 846-dwt bunker ship Elhiblu 1 (built 2015) docked in Valletta on Thursday with more than 100 migrants on board.
The group had been rescued by the vessel off Libya, but seized control and headed to Malta after being told they would be heading back to the African country.
The BBC cited a statement by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) saying it had established communications with the captain when it as en route to the island.
The master said he was not in control of the tanker and was being threatened by some of the migrants.
A patrol vessel stopped the ship from entering Maltese territorial waters, and a special operations unit team was dispatched to board and secure the vessel, the AFM said.
Police are now investigating.
Equasis lists the ship as owned by Salah Ali M Elhiblu of Palau.
