Italy - Cargo with hundreds of Syrian refugees docked in Gallipoli

ANSAmed
Vessel seized, suspected human-trafficker arrestedGallipoli (Lecce) - A cargo ship carrying 970 migrants, most of them from war-torn Syria and including some 40 children and 20 pregnant women, arrived early Wednesday in the southern Italian port of Gallipoli, authorities said.

One man was taken into custody on suspicion of human smuggling when the cargo ship Blue Sky M arrived. Authorities released no information about his nationality or identity.

Italian Coast Guard officials were dropped by an Air Force helicopter on to the Moldovan-flagged ship Tuesday afternoon after it sent distress signals from somewhere near the Greek island of Corfu. Initial reports suggested armed men were on board but none were found and some media later reported the distress signals instead related to engine problems.

Meanwhile, Red Cross officials were on hand Wednesday morning to help the migrants, and about 130 were sent to southern Italian hospitals in the Lecce region for care.

Police did not find any weapons on board, but they seized