Pserimos: Three injured during coast guard pursuit of migrant-trafficking vessel

The two migrant traffickers were arrested and the injured were taken to hospital.

Three were injured during a coast guard pursuit of a migrant-trafficking vessel that involved an exchange of fire on Monday.

According to sources, a vessel that was carrying two migrant traffickers and twelve illegal migrants was spotted by the coastguard between the Aegean islands of Pserimos and Kalymnos.

The coastguard vessel engaged in the pursuit of the migrant-trafficking vessel, during which the migrant traffickers tried to ram and sink the coast guard vessel.

At this point, according to sources, a coast guard officer was injured in the arm. An exchange of fire followed between the two sides, resulting in the injury of two illegal migrants.

The two migrant traffickers were arrested and the injured were taken to hospital.

The coast guard is expected to make an official announcement shortly.