Egyptians captured in Sicily after stealing fishing boat from Malta

The three claimed to be Palestinians and to have escaped from Libya, but it later emerged that they stole a Maltese fishing boat and traveled to Sicily.

The boat was discovered not far from where they were intercepted.

Maltese police assisted their Italian counterparts and the three Egyptian men have been arrested and are awaiting deportation back to Malta where they will be charged over theft and breach of immigration rules.

The news comes as 16 Egyptian men who last week allegedly 'hijacked' a Libyan boat near Malta were deported on Tuesday.

The men reportedly took control of a small Libyan ship some 20 nautical miles off Malta on Friday, locking the captain and two crewmen in the engine room. One of the crew was injured in the scuffle.

A Maltese rescue boat persuaded the Egyptians to surrender and they were subsequently taken to Malta for interrogation.

Egyptian Ambassador to Malta Abdel Mawgoud El Habashy, said the 16 will be investigated by the Egyptian authorities for fleeing the country illegally.

El Habashy said the men had apparently boarded the Libyan vessel in Libya, convinced it would take them to Italy.